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1/ As has happened elsewhere, this piece implies that 'advocacy groups' like @maglaundries & @adoptionrights are somehow removed from survivors & adopted people. https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/impugning-the-mother-and-baby-commission-does-not-serve-victims-1.4473277
2/ The @clann_project is an initiative of two of the 'advocacy groups' allegedly besetting the Commission, namely @adoptionrights & @maglaundries (in conjunction with @HLCitizenship)
3/ Working with the @clann_project, @HLCitizenship submitted statements to the #MotherandBabyHomes Commission on behalf of 82 survivors, adopted people, natural mothers, relatives & others.
4/ As the author of the above article knows, the @clann_project is designed to empower the people affected & give them control over their own testimony:
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/women-who-had-children-forcibly-taken-still-face-discrimination-1.3664394
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/women-who-had-children-forcibly-taken-still-face-discrimination-1.3664394
5/ Moreover, @adoptionrights is led by adopted people. Our organisation has been in existence since 2009 & most of us have been involved in adoption activism in previous orgs for over 20 years.
6/ And, FYI, @maglaundries was co-founded by three adopted people, two of whose mothers were incarcerated in Magdalene Laundries. We've built relationships with survivors since our establishment in 2003 & we're always guided by their views.
7/ The @clann_project is co-directed by @maeveorourke and me.
I'm an adopted person.
In other words, the @clann_project is co-directed by someone directly affected by this issue.
I'm an adopted person.
In other words, the @clann_project is co-directed by someone directly affected by this issue.
8/ @adoptionrights & @maglaundries are organisations with 2 decades of experience who are led & guided by people affected by the issues under investigation.
As a co-founder of both orgs I make no apology for the fact that we shared our expertise with the Commission.
As a co-founder of both orgs I make no apology for the fact that we shared our expertise with the Commission.
9/ On a personal level, like others affected by this issue I'm more than capable of making up my own mind about the #MotherandBabyHomes Report.
I view it as an egregious breach of the trust of hundreds of witnesses who gave evidence (including myself).
I view it as an egregious breach of the trust of hundreds of witnesses who gave evidence (including myself).
10/ Moreover, I'm grateful that 'commentators, politicians and advocacy groups' have weighed in to criticise the Report. As I've said previously, in 2013 few wanted to know about the deficiencies of the McAleese Report once the Magdalene apology came. We need our allies.
11/ It is not okay to insinuate that @adoptionrights @maglaundries @clann_project are removed from the populations affected by these issues.
But neither is it okay to suggest that our allies have no right to hold the Commission & the State to account.
But neither is it okay to suggest that our allies have no right to hold the Commission & the State to account.
12/ This allyship is where the strength of the @clann_project lies: adopted people, survivors, activists, academics & lawyers collaborating on a level playing field in order to speak truth to power.
Perhaps it's not surprising that some find such collaborations so unsettling.
Perhaps it's not surprising that some find such collaborations so unsettling.
