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Children’s High Level Group statement on international adoptions

The role of adoption in protecting children’s rights

Statement to European Parliament meeting on international adoptions by Children’s High Level Group

Brussels, 9 November 2006

International adoption is an emotive issue, but the international legal position is very clear – that it should be considered as an alternative ONLY if the child cannot be placed in a foster or adoptive family or cared for in a suitable manner within his/her own country of origin. It should be the exception and only when in the interests of the child for very individual reasons. This is outlined in the International Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Children who cannot for some reason be looked after by the natural parents should be cared for in their own societies, within legislative, institutional and professional practice standards that are clearly established, and in accordance with international conventions and best practice. Public policy in all countries should be directed according to those principles.

International adoption has a place, but on an individual child be child basis. Public policy should be focused on making sure that international adoptions are in accordance with international law and best practice, rather than promoting these as an element of policy and politics. The long history of distortion and corruption associated with international adoptions alone should make us very wary of any such focus.

Dr Richard Alderslade, CEO of the Children’s High Level Group (CHLG)

(Dr Richard Alderslade is speaking today at the Une Politique Europeenne de l’adoption?)

Ends.

 

Notes to editors

The Children’s High Level Group (CHLG) is a charity set up by Baroness Emma Nicholson and J K Rowling, the children’s author, The aim of the CHLG is to ensure that a common minimum standard for children is implemented across the whole of Europe. As such the CHLG’s goal is to work in a large number of countries, many of which are already members of the European Union, and others which are not.
Supporting information about Romania’s progress:

• new legislation has been enacted, fully in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and European standards

• in 1997 from the total of children found in the protection system, approximately 80% were in large residential type institutions. By August 2006 this percentage had dropped to 35%

• at the same time, the percentage of children protected in family type services increased from 20% in 1997 to approximately 64% at the end of August 2006

• in 1997 the number of children protected within families e.g. relatives, professional maternal assistants and other persons/families was 11,899. By August 2006, this number had increased to 47,863

• between 2000 and 2006 170 placement institutions with capacities between 100-400 places closed

• national adoption is developing strongly. Currently there are 2393 persons and families certified to adopt and 1616 decisions for the initiation of the internal adoptions procedure

• there are now over 15,000 children in foster care