Maria and Mihai asking for help from the Romanian authorities, holding a sign in Romanian saying “We want to go home to our mother!!!”.
How you can help Maria and Mihai
An old Romanian proverb says that God works through people. Without your help, there will be no miracle for the Smicală-Jalaskoski family, no divine intervention for Mihai and Maria, who just want to go home. In a culture of silence, authorities have no interest in coming clean about their wrongdoings and abuse.
Now more than ever, we need to unite our thoughts and efforts. If we want to give those children in Finland who have been mistreated by the Finnish system a chance at love, happiness, and a normal family life, we need to act.
Here is how you can help:
1,000,000 voices for maria and mihai - petition
This Change.org petition is directly addressed to all Finnish, Romanian, and European competent bodies which can intervene for Mihai and Maria. Reaching 1,000,000 signatures will force the Finnish authorities to take action against their own illegalities.
1,000,000 is a difficult number to ignore. Please add your voice to ours and let’s reach that number together.
Write to the competent authorities
The different institutional bodies overseeing the rightful implementation of human and child rights need to be made aware of the gravity of Mihai and Maria’s situation. We are constantly writing and petitioning to these institutions, in Finland, Romania, and at the European level. We will only be heard if we are many.
You can find the contact information of the main public figures and authorities that can weigh in on Mihai and Maria’s case below.
The European Court of
Human Rights
This is the supranational court established by the European Convention on Human Rights which is ensuring the enforcement and implementation of the European Convention in the member states of the Council of Europe.
The European Union Agency
for Fundamental Rights
FRA is an EU body, mandated to monitor the fundamental rights explained in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. One of the 9 thematic areas of the Charter concerns the rights of the child.
UN High Commissioner for
Human Rights
This is the UN department that works to promote and protect the human rights which are guaranteed under international law and stipulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948. Children's rights are included.
Sanna marin, Finland's
prime minister
Leading Finland's executive branch, Ms. Marin has a direct influence on the policies and actions taking place in the Finnish state. She is directly involved in elaborating Finland's new National Child Strategy, which vouches for a child and family-friendly Finland.
Krista Kiuru, Finnish Minister of
Family Affairs and Social Services
Ms. Kiuru's Ministry is directly responsible for child welfare, child protection and inclusion, children's wellbeing, family and parenting support, preventive social policy, and social assistance in Finland. She has a direct overview on the Finnish Child Protection Agency.
Sauli Niinistö, Finland's
President
Finland’s foreign policy and international relations are led by the President of the Republic in co-operation with the Government. In the case of Maria and Mihai's double-nationality situation, this is a case that requires diplomatic intervention.
Klaus Iohannis, Romania's President
The official engagements of Romania's President are acting as the protector of its people and leading the international relations with other states, including Finland. He can strengthen the diplomatic efforts of getting Maria and Mihai back to their mother.
Embassy of Romania
to Finland
This is the main diplomatic channel that Romania has in Finland, representing and protecting Romanians' rights in Finland. Although they have intervened in the past, their stance was neither fast, nor determined enough in front of Finland's blatant abuse.
Embassy of Finland
to Romania
Diplomats accredited to Finland present their credentials directly to the Finnish President. Although they are not directly involved, they can diplomatically intervene in mediating the Romanian-Finnish relations regarding Mihai and Maria's desperate situation.
These are just some of the official bodies that we can contact for the Smicală-Jalaskoski family. We will also be updating you on special write-in campaigns that we will organize in the future. Keep an eye on our News tab!
Share the story
Please read about the drama that this family has been subjected to for years on our Timeline page. Watch the videos, read the coverage done by the media about Maria and Mihai. And then, tell your family, friends, colleagues, and others about the case. The more people know, the more attention this case gets, the faster and better we can act to bring those two children back home.
Please share the Change.org petition with your network, so that they can find out more about the Smicală-Jalaskoski case and sign for Mihai and Maria.
We will soon prepare other materials that you can use to share Mihai and Maria’s story.
Join a protest
New locations!
- August 8th, 2020 – Spain, Arganda del Rey – Plaza de Extremadura (next to Zoco) – from 17:00-20:00.
Do you want to organize a protest in your city? Join the efforts for these children and many more like then who don’t have a voice in the Finnish system. Write to us and let us know where you’ll be having the protest.
Donate to Camelia Smicală
This mother has put everything on the line to get her children back, including financially. So far, all the legal costs round up to more than 200,000 EUR in lawyers, court hearings, petition costs, etc. She has never received anything for free – not even child alimony from her ex-husband, a cost that he is mandated by law to pay, but hasn’t. Nor has she asked for anything. But the truth of the matter is that she needs help.
This is not a case of charity, but a plea for humanity. Her fight to get her family back also involves heavy costs. In case you can, please donate to Ms. Smicală-Jalaskoski via her GoFundMe, so she can continue her fight in the best way possible.
Do you have other ways to help out the Smicală-Jalaskoski family? Let us know at [email protected]! We are always looking for new ways to collaborate, so that we can finally see these children back home, where they belong.