International Adoption and Human Rights Violations

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January 12th, 2010 is a day in Haiti history that no one will forget; a 7.3 magnitude earthquake left a huge impact on Haiti. In the wake of this devastating earthquake hundreds of children were left without homes and families were destroyed. “International adoption agencies, adoption advocacy groups, and government Web sites were over whelmed by calls and e-mails” (Seabrook). Within days of the earthquake, many American families began enquiring about adopting a child from Haiti. A selfless act like adoption turned into a controversy over human rights and caused many to voice concerns about adopting internationally.

A child’s most basic human right is to grow up in a safe nurturing family, and laws had to be put in place to protect these rights. America’s laws vary by state. The laws that govern adoption in general protect all the parties involved focusing on what is the best interest of the child or children. First, the decision must be made as to what type of adoption is being sought, there is private adoption, open adoption and international adoption. Private adoption is an arrangement between the adoptive parents and the birth parents without the use of outside sources. Open adoption is when both the adoptive and birth parents have access to certain information about each other depending on what is agreed upon. Another option is international adoption, this is when adoptive parents go outside of the United States to adopt a child or children. Despite the choice there is always a process that must be strictly followed. Structured laws are in place to protect the children involved in the adoption. After qualifying for adoption a couple, or in some situations an individual, looking to adopt must then have a series of “H...

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...nd enforcement of guidelines to adoption. Such guidelines will not only ensure children will continue to be provided with safe homes and families, they will also guarantee the child and/or birth parents human rights will not be violated. At the same providing perspective parents with the opportunity to adopt a child in a protected manner.

Works Cited

Appell, Annette R. "The Open Adoption Option." Childrens Rights litigation 13.1 (2010): 8-12. 15 March 2014. < http://search.ebscohost.com.proxy.ohiolink.edu:9099/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=54322125&site=ehost-live>.

Ryan, S.D et al. "Open Adoptions In Child Welfare: Social Worker and Foster/Adoptive Parents Attitudes." Journal of public child welfare (2011).

Seabrook, John. "Adopting a child in Haiti." n.d. March 2014.

Sotiropoulos, Karen. "Open Adoption and the Politics of." Intervention (2008).

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