Have Your Say: Ceausescu's children

Forty years ago former Romanian leader Nicolae Ceausescu introduced a "forced breeding" policy to his country.

Thousands of unwanted babies were born including many with disabilities after abortion and contraception were banned.

For Crossing Continents, Rosie Goldsmith investigated the impact of this cruel social experiment which continues to traumatise Romania today.

We asked for your comments following our programme and this is what you had to say.

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Even though I now live in Canada, I visit Romania often enough to know that the programme does indeed reflect reality. It angers me to see these "disaster deniers" every time somebody dares to raise their voice and criticise Romania in the slightest. Well, there's still discrimination, people still abandon their children, and some husbands still beat their wives. If you want to deny that, go ahead, but it won't help you one bit - the emperor will still be naked, his ugliness fully exposed, for all EU to see.
Eleonora Dekretel, Vancouver, Canada

One of those interviewed says Ceausescu's policies were considered Draconian because abortion and contraception were banned. How is it that allowing the termination of an unborn baby's life is the accepted norm, but allowing the baby to be born is considered extreme and Draconian? It is not morally right to choose abortion based on the belief that it produces the greatest good and the least harm. I hope the Romanian people do not embrace the abortion solution, thereby replacing Ceausescu's oppression with oppression of their own making.
Bill, Pembroke, NH, US

It's a relief to hear that the appalling legacy of Ceausescu's Decree 770 is still being highlighted. And that its social impact on the country as a whole and its still institutionalised children and adults have not been forgotten. Maybe its now time for the EU to acknowledge and provide adequate funding to implement further reform? I now look forward to the televised version!
S Gurr, London

I may be wrong but I do not see a strong logical connection between encouraging births 40 years ago and infectious diseases today. Perhaps the problems like AIDS have much more to do with the troubles of the transition period than with Ceausescu's old decrees?
KF, Moscow

Many things happened during that time and probably the recent condemnation of the communism regime or any other investigation would solve the mysteries of that era. Too bad that the younger generation doesn't know about it or understand it.
UF, Chicago, US

The problem is deeply rooted. Replacing one's culture with Moscow-based policies of communist indoctrination creates a social vacuum. Traditional orthodox and catholic values like family and propriety collapse, and the government tried to create incentives to increase the number of births. On the other hand even here in the United States the gypsies preserve their heritage very well and they are aware of their values and culture. It surprises me to find second generation gypsies here in St Louis behaving just like their counterparts from Romania, having lots of children at young ages and so on. Gypsies were not broken by communism, Romanians were defeated.
Tiberiu Horj, US, born in Romania

I'm one of them. Although born and raised in a loving family I was affected by the tidal wave of our generation; schools were working two to three shifts daily to accommodate the increased number of pupils, entrance into university programmes was outrageous, only 70 admissions out of 5000 to 10,000 candidates and so on.
Vasile, Los Angeles

You have no idea whatsoever what this regime meant or still means. What I can see is that you have a high disregard towards the Romanian nation and its inhabitants. And this comes from somebody who has been living in Romania, yes under the old regime and also in Western Europe long enough to understand that this programme has nothing to do with real information. The main interest here is cheap disinformation, once again portraying Romania as a poor European country which doesn't take care of its children. The reality in 2006 is so different from 40 years ago.
S, Romania

I am afraid that many of the people who were raised within the orphanages, during Ceausescu and after, will tend to continue with this tradition with their own children. The entrenched idea that the father state/ somebody else should look after your children is still strong within the deprived/ communities. Discrimination and stigma is also present especially within uneducated/ uninformed classes. It is sad but things are moving on and resources are used to inform and educate. Also, children's services now are far, far better than what used to be in place 17 years ago. Hopefully, mothers will stop abandoning their children only because they think the state will look after them better!
George, Iasi, Romania

I think gypsies are so poor that they are think a new child is an opportunity for social help. Religion here has also a view that you need to procreate during your whole life!
Adrian O, Bucharest

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The comments we publish are not necessarily the views of the BBC but will reflect the balance of views we have received. It is helpful if contributors state if they work for any organisation relevant to an issue discussed. Readers should form their own views on whether messages published represent undeclared interests, or views prompted by a common source.