History: In the 1950's proxy adoptions were the most common form of international adoptions. This form of adoption allowed families to send an agent overseas to seek out a child, that they would then bring back to the family looking to adopt. The problem with this form of adoption though, was that it was unregulated and did not meet minimum standards to protect children. In the 1960's the amount of international adoption went up, because of the legalization of abortions in the united states many people could no longer adopt domestically and there were often more people looking to adopt than there were children to be adopted. This caused families to look to foreign countries where poverty left many children in need to a stable environment. Since then global changes have made the need for international adoption a major one. For example China's one child law caused many families to give up children (often girls) that they were not allowed to raise as their own. Over the years China, Guatemala, South Korea, Ukraine and Ethiopia have been the major countries providing children to the united states.
International adoption is Global issue that we face, and have been facing for many years. Not only is it a question of whether or not children should be raised in countries other than their home country, where they are not exposed to their culture and customs, but we also look at the means ichildren children are brought into the adoption process. Many people say that International adoption is a savior for the children of foreign countries who would otherwise be brought up in poverty. It provides them with a stable and loving home and family, and the education and resources they need to live a healthy and successful life. On the other side though many people argue that it is not in the child's best interest to grow up in a country other than their birth country, and that the practice of international adoption may be predatory with many children being kidnapped from their families or mothers being bribed to give them up. I believe that International adoption does have have a great ability to provide children with successful and healthy lifestyles that they would not achieve in their home countries, but that the means of obtaining the children who are to be adopted must be humane for this process to benefit anyone at all
So why is it that the views on this issue are so contradicting? Well on one side there is the belief that adopting children from other countries is saving them from the hardships they would be facing in their own countries. In many cases the children would be forced into poverty, abandoned by their parents and forced to fend for themselves. They could suffer from disease, starvation, and natural disaster. International adoption has the ability to provide stable and loving homes for children who may have been abused, neglected or abandoned by their parents. It helps children feel loved and accepted by loving people who help them to succeed in their lives, with education and occupations.
On the other side people believe its a practice that exploits families in poor countries. Sometimes adoption agencies pose as legitimate organization, but engage in abductions and bribery to procure children for the orphanages. This brings up the situation of child trafficking; adoption agencies get payed for sending children across seas, so they attempt to send as many as they can. In many cases adoption agencies bribe soon to be mothers with money or other goods, and the mothers are so desperate that they are willing to give up their children for these bribes. Another concern that arises is if it is in the child's best interest to be brought up in a country other than their home country. They
would be growing up away from their culture and traditions, and would be assimilated into a brand
new countries culture. It is believed that culture should be preserved and many people see the act of
international adoption as one that is going against this. one last issue is that when children are taken from their homes and put up for international adoption is that often the adopting parents are unaware
of any medical concerns, or if the child wil need any special help and attention due to the
unwillingness to be brought to another a country, or difficultly dealing with culture change that they
will be facing.
In my opinion. International adoption is a great way to provide children with safe and secure lives, but only in the means of procuring the children is safe and humane. If a child is taken from its home without consent from the parents then the child may grow up resentful and out of place. I strongly believe the Hague Convention organization ( http://adoption.state.gov/hague_convention/overview.php ) which provides set guidelines and standards for the circumstances under which a child is adopted. It aims to prevent the abduction or trafficking of children internationally and makes sure the adoption is in the best intrest for the child. I believe under this agreement is the only circumstance where international adoption can be monitored and benefiting for all.
For more information visit the following:
http://adoption.state.gov/index.php
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