Thursday, September 24, 2009

There is No Right to Adopt

“…even if the suffering of a number of infertile prospective adoptive parents must be taken into account,
no-one ever holds ‘the right to adopt'.
 If it existed, it would imply the right over another human being, who would become the ‘object’ of the right of the adopting candidates.”


“Adoption: at what cost? For an ethical responsibility of receiving countries in intercountry adoption.” Isabelle Lammerant and Marlène Hofstetter. 2007 Publications of Terre des hommes 

Full Report can be downloaded at the Better Care Network whose steering commitee includes: Steering Committee includes CARE and the Hope for Africa's Children Initiative, UNICEF, USAID and the Displaced Children's and Orphans Fund, and Save the Children UK.

The Better Care Network believes that:

Families offer the best protection of children and are more likely to provide the conditions for healthy development. Children who have been separated from their families are more vulnerable to abuse, exploitation, and neglect. Prevention of separation from families, and the provision of services to maintain family unity, is therefore a priority. Family preservation services aim to prevent or reduce the need for alternative care arrangements by providing interventions that promote the safety and well being of the child and family...

Prevention of family separation is called for in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (article 16) and is integral to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (articles 5–9, 18, 24, 27-29). These rights apply to all families and children, regardless of their nationality, or status.

The Better Care Network advocates for assistance and service provision to vulnerable families, in order to prevent unnecessary separation.

1 comment:

AdoptAuthor said...

An interesting discussion of "want" versus "need" in this regard at:

http://bioethicsdiscussion.blogspot.com/2009/09/
child-by-ivf-vs-adoption-ethical.html

RussiaToday Apr 29, 2010 on Russian Adoption Freeze

Russi Today: America television Interview 4/16/10 Regarding the Return of Artyem, 7, to Russia alone

RT: Russia-America TV Interview 3/10

Korean Birthmothers Protest to End Adoption

Motherhood, Adoption, Surrender, & Loss

Who Am I?

Bitter Winds

Adoption and Truth Video

Adoption Truth

Birthparents Never Forget