Couples Adopting Children from Overseas - Essay Example

Couples Adopting Children from Overseas Name: University: Instructor: Course Title: Date: Couples Adopting Children from Overseas Introduction Over the years, numerous societal dynamics have brought into public interest the need for children adoption. According to Family & Community Services (2012), adoption is the legal process which permanently transfers all the legal rights and responsibilities of being a parent from the child’s birth parents to the adoptive parents. The need for adoption has been moved to a higher level due to various reasons like need to have a child in a case where parents cannot have their biological children, some use at a means of helping others out of poverty and as a social responsibility so as to provide safe and loving family environment. In addition, adoption can be used to reduce the number of destitute children among many others (Hoksbergen, 1997, p.9). The issue adoption has spiraled beyond national borders and it is now an international phenomenon that attracts different views (Van Bueren, 1998, p.13).This paper seeks to examine challenges adopting children from overseas by comparing and contrasting positive and negatives impacts associated with the process. Historical Background of Overseas Adoption in Australia In general view, international adoption started after word war 2 when it was felt there was need to mop up children who had been left parentless. Sometimes, willing parents or individual might wish to adopt a child not from her country. The Australian federal state recognizes the fact the need to adopt a child from overseas by her citizens is a possible scenario. To address any legality relating to this phenomenon, the country has put in places various legal mechanism to deal with this scenario. Australia has state and territory supported adoption framework and privately arranged adoptions. However, Burns & Burns (2007, p.84 & 85); Jackman (2008) notes that Australia has one of the most stringent measures that discourage inter-country adoption. Moreover, Jackman (2008) notes that Australia ranks the second lowest in terms of inter-country adoption with the lowest being United Kingdom. Burns & Burns (2007, p.84 & 85) notes that the process takes longer time, expensive, intrusive and thus, a discouraging encounter. In Australia, the law governing recognition of overseas adoption is anchored in Hague Convention on Inter-country Adoption Regulations and Family Law Act of 1975 (Attorney General’s Department, 2012). In addition, overseas adoption is also regulated by bilateral agreements that Australia has with other countries (Burns & Burns, 2007, p.83). Burns & Burns (2007, p.83) observes that it is the attorney’s department that is discharged with the mandate of ensuring the interest of the adopted child is catered for. However, it is the responsibility of the state governments to process the application. Before any adoption order is done by the court for a child that comes from countries that have not ratified The Hague convention, the child remains under the custody of DIMA minister who delegates the function to a state authority known as community services department. For the court order to be effective one of the parents must be at least an Australian citizen moreover, this approval is based on a social worker’s report. Once this is completed that child would be guaranteed automatic citizenship. On the other hand, a child might also be granted a visa if she/ he had been adopted privately overseas and the parents had stayed there for more than twelve months and it was done in good faith and the authorities in the country of origin had approved it. In order to reduce any frustration that might emerge, the country has developed stringent and elaborate assessment process (Burns & Burns, 2007, p.86). The Positive Impacts and the Negative Impacts of Couples Adopting Children from Overseas The topic of overseas adoptions in a public discourse and policy levels normally elicits two way reactions. There are those who are for the concept as a result of certain motivations & social parameters and there are those who are against it as a result of certain perceived effects at individual levels, societal level and macro-economic perspectives. One such discourse that has brought to limelight the issues of overseas adoptions are like child labor, child smuggling, culture shock and why overseas and there are equally a good number of children who need, deserve adoption as an avenue of enjoying that needed parental care and love in their local countries and the concern that government should first protect the rights of the natives before looking outside. On the other hand, some see it as an avenue for helping less fortunate children from deprived background of under developed economies, other supporters of the concept sees as an expression of human rights towards free choice and rights of association by allowing people to have the children whom their hearts have fallen in love with irrespective of political and geographical boundaries. Moreover, some sees it as a mean towards cultural integration in this globalizing world where these adopted kids contribute to cultural diversity. Lastly, inter-country adoption can be seen as means to addressing situation where there are more children than the prospective foster parents. Negative Impacts The first line of argument and thus a negative impact is that why adopt outside the country while domestically there those who deserve to be adopted. In a connected view, the opponents of overseas adoption sees it as way of trading the rights of the locals to others yet the government should first guarantee the rights of the locals before taking care of others. One country that this kind or argument has been pushed forward is in United States of America. Globally, USA has the record number of overseas adoption (Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute, 2002). On the other hand, the same country has a high number of children under foster care using public money who are yet to be adopted. This is like pure hypocrisy and it denies these deserving children that opportunity. To corroborate and substantiate this point, the report notes that in the year 1999-2006 around 129, 884 were in public foster care. However, the surprising is that in the year of 2008 Americans adopted 17, 229 children outside the country. This shows how these couples ignored simple facts and denied deserving citizen children the golden opportunity (Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute, 2002). The next negative impact that has been raised by various opponents of the process is the child trafficking and exploitation. This kind of phenomenon is common in countries like Cambodia and Romania. Triseliotis (1993, p123) notes that the increased demand for children in developed nations has created a black market child trafficking as result of ready market. In this kind of scenario, smugglers working with illicit abductors hold hostage children to be sold to foster parents. This has given rise to other phenomenon like child labor where these kids are not treated well and subjected to start working at early stages. Moreover, concerns of child prostitution and molestation have been raised. One the factor that is attributed to this is the international child adoption. The other source of disadvantage is likely to arise as a result of socialization and cultural difference thus, making the integration process difficult (Triseliotis, 1993, p123). One clear thing that is likely to emerge when one adopt a child from overseas countries is the culture shock. This concern is true because in her/ his earlier years of life the child was brought in a different way both in terms of language and family relationship among others. If the adopting parent/ foster parent are not able and has no that adequate capacity to integrate the child into the new community, the child’s social development is likely to be compromised and she or he may end up being a socially excluded person. Consequently this might lead to development of anti social behaviors like indulgence in drugs, being aggressive and delinquent crimes (Triseliotis, 1993, p123). Positive Impacts One of the positive impacts of oversea adoption is that gives a chance to deserving children an opportunity to access better life outside their home countries. Moreover, this goes a long way in affirming most governments in respecting individual rights of making choices. In fact, the line of argument has been that is one is allowed to marry or get married anywhere in the world, why not children? The notable positive impact of this concept can be well analyzed from China’s perspective where as a result of deliberate government policy and cultural belief most people thought of girl child as unwanted person. On the other hand, international adoption gives these children a life line to access better life somewhere. In addition, the positive impact can also be seen after the posts second world war and other wars like Korean War. For instance, since 1971-2001 America has adopted over 250, 000 children (Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute, 2002). Some of these people have gone to become great people and contributes to America’s economic growth. Owing to this potential and positive contribution, in 1989, UN formulated a charter dealing with children’s rights (Van Bueren, 1998, p.13). Moreover, in situations where the adoption process is stringent for the local child it gives willing partners to have children from overseas. The other positive impact is its contribution to cultural diversity. In this globalizing world a nation cannot remain isolated and one way of ensuring this is through overseas adoption. The positive contribution of diversity to an economy or country can’t go unnoticed. Cultural diversity enriches our societies, work places and schools in various ways (Kochan, 2003, p.4). One of the America’s strength lies on its diverse population. As earlier reported, America has adopted over 250, 000 children since 1971-2001 (Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute, 2002). One of the positive contributions about this to their economy is keeping their population young thus, ensuring there is working population that can sustain retirees based on pay as you go basis. In the recent times, other western European nations have been struggling economically due to aging population that is putting strain on the national coffers yet they are not that much economically productive. Conclusion From the above discussions, it is clearly evident that international adoption of a child has both positive and negative impacts to the receiving and releasing, countries, societies and individuals. While it is indeed true that the negative impacts are a concern socially and economically, the process should not be stopped since it also give others a chance to access better life and parental love under someone else. The future lies on how well countries and international communities can sit together and form stringent regulations and international standards to reduce trafficking and improve internal conditions for children who are in need of adoption so as to minimize overseas adoption. Thus the essence and future lies in striking a balance through control of overseas adoption and improvement of internal conditions that favors child development. References Attorney General’s Department (2012). Inter-country adoption. Retrieved on May 12, 2012 from:http://www.ag.gov.au/Intercountryadoption/Pages/default.aspx. Burns, L. & Burns, A. (2007). Adopting overseas: a guide to adopting from Australia, plus from personal stories that will inspire you. Double Bay, NSW: Rockpool Publishing Pty Ltd. Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989. International Documents on Children: Second Edition. Ed. Geraldine Van Bueren. The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 1998. Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute (2002). International adoption facts. Retrieved on May 12, 2012 from: http://www.adoptioninstitute.org/FactOverview/international.html. Family & Community Services (2012). Australian immigration fact sheet 36: adopting children from overseas. Retrieved on May 12, 2012 from: http://www.immi.gov.au/media/fact- sheets/36adopting.htm. Hoksbergen, R. A. C. (1997). Child adoption: A guidebook for adoptive parents and their advisers. London: Jessica Kingsley Publisher Ltd. Jackman, D. L. (2008). Australia’s poor adoption record. Retrieved on May 12, 2012 from: http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/36942.html. Kochan, T. et al. (2003). The Effects of Diversity on Business Performance: Report of the Diversity Research Network, Human Resource Management, 42(1): 3-21. Triseliotis, J. (1993). Inter-country Adoption: In whose best interest? Inter-country Adoption: Practical Experiences. Ed. Michael Humphrey and Heather Humphrey. New York: Routledge. Read More