Children discovered in a neglected state in Northern Italy - Missing Children Discovered in Northern Italy's Region
In the quiet village of Lauriano, nestled in the Piedmontese forest about 30 kilometers from Turin, two neglected brothers, aged 6 and 9, were discovered living in isolation. The boys, who had never attended school and had no registered names, were found during a clearance operation after a flood in April.
The boys were born in Germany and had been living on a remote farm with their Dutch parents, a 54-year-old sculptor, who had reportedly been obsessed with the coronavirus. The father, in an attempt to protect his children from viral infections, kept them away from society, refusing to vaccinate them or let them wear masks.
The family's living conditions were precarious, with no running water or proper electricity. Despite their ages, the boys were reportedly still wearing diapers and were unable to speak, read, or write. The family had settled in a farmhouse that was entirely energy and water-independent, allowing complete isolation from society.
The mother, who was reportedly absent and homeless, showed little interest in the children. The village residents were unaware of the children's existence, and they were thus dubbed "ghost children" by the media.
It was Italian Carabinieri who discovered the boys during the evacuation operation. Following their discovery, the juvenile court in Turin declared the parents unfit and placed the children into protective custody. The boys are currently living in a protected facility under social services’ care, with adoption proceedings initiated by the juvenile prosecutor’s office.
The father defends his parenting style, claiming that the children had access to toys, laptops, musical instruments, and outdoor activities like horse riding. However, the local mayor described the case as "very delicate" and expressed concern over the children’s welfare. The father is currently fighting to regain custody, insisting on wanting to live in Italy and claiming he is not a villain, though the authorities and court disagree due to the severe neglect and isolation the children suffered.
Sources: [1] Corriere della Sera [2] Reuters [3] BBC News
The Commission has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of the environment, emphasizing the importance of ensuring access to essential resources such as running water and electricity in light of the appalling living conditions the neglected brothers from Lauriano endured.
In the realm of science, studies could be conducted on the psychological and developmental impacts of prolonged isolation on children and their mental health, considering the brothers' inability to speak, read, or write at their ages.
General news outlets have been reporting on the ongoing legal battle between the Italian authorities and the father of the two brothers, with the court contending that his refusal to vaccinate his children and maintain proper hygiene practices contributes to the crime-and-justice category, particularly child neglect.
