My fellow Somalis Guled Farah and Farhia Gelle have experienced many hardships since they moved from Somalia to Winnipeg. They were told by CFS (Child and Family Services) that they were not fit parents due to “broken English” and two of their children were taken from them when one had an accident and went to the hospital.

There are over 200, 000 Somali families in Canada who share the dream to thrive with their Families.  But in Manitoba, one system can take children away from their home. Together we can change that.

When Mrs. Gelle was pregnant with another child in 2010, CFS told her that if the baby was born in Canada and not Somalia, she too would be taken away by CFS. However, as the laws of CFS work in Manitoba, if they were to go back to Somalia- simply to have a baby and resist the child being taken away- CFS would claim abandonment of the other two children in care which would stop the couple from ever getting their children back.
The couple has been told by CFS that if they go to the media or protest, they’ll never see their children again. They’ve already gone 6 years without seeing them. This is a mob attitude the Manitoba government has, threatening parents that if they talked (or “snitched”) they’d never see their children again. They’ve done everything they could and can no longer go along with this charade. They now stand and protest outside the Manitoba Legislative Building every single day.

Kids should not be taken from their parents if they have not been abused or neglected. Sign this petition and tell Canada’s elected Prime Minister that he should protect kids with Somali parents by passing the Family Law Reform into law at all CRS centers.
Thankfully, the Canadian government deems these kinds of acts illegal but there are no legal actions being taken to protect the rights of parents who have worked endlessly to follow protocols and take all the parenting courses they’ve been told to take. The Canadian ‘Family Law Reform’ states a child has the right to be parented by both parents but, in the eyes of CFS there are conditions that must be met. The bill is active, but it is important that we shed light on this issue and we maintain momentum. With your help, we can motivate Manitoba's Minister of Healthy Living Politician Kerri Irvin-Ross to take action!

Stand with us and ask the Child and Family Services and its partners to lead the way in improving their system for all children through committing to regulate law, protect the rights of parents and take all actions necessary to achieve it.

The CFS is a major organization that provides resources and alternatives to families across the country. But, it exploits and fails to protect the rights of families, every day.  We are asking that the CFS Board change its current state to better serve families and that CFS partners step up so this family can be given the opportunity to exercise their rights and reunite with their children. A change like this will have a dramatic effect on the lives of thousands of families who have been exploited and oppressed by this system.

I am blessed every day to wake up and know that I can receive love, protection, and support from my parents, but I shouldn’t be the exception. Now is the time for us to join our voices and make a difference for the children and their loving parents. 

 #GiveBackOurKids