According to this article, some officials in the Ethiopian government are seeking an end to international adoption. Here is the entire text of an article from allafrica.com:
“Ethiopia: Stakeholders, Public Has to End Foreign Adoption
BY ZERYHUN KASSA, 26 DECEMBER 2013
In a press conference, House Speaker Abadula Gemeda and the Minister Zenebu Tadesse told journalists that stakeholders should work closely to end foreign adoption.
Abadula urged the importance to give priority to use local means to raise orphaned children rather than giving them away to foreign families.
He suggested the importance to establish and support local NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) which raise orphaned children with the close collaboration of the public.
He urged stakeholders and the public to support these initiatives and protect children from any kind of abuse.
The Minister Zenebu on her part said the government is working hard to end foreign adoption and facilitate situations to raise the children within their community.
Over 9,000 children were adopted by foreign families during the previous years, in a yearly basis, she said.
Through various activities carried out over the past years, number of children adopted by foreign families reduced to less than 1,000 in 2005EC.
She attributed the success to implementation of various laws and increasing knowledge of the public.”
You can read the article as posted on allafrica.com here.
There’s no question that adoptions from Ethiopia need to be examined closely, as fraud and corruption have become disturbingly common.
At the same time, “ending adoptions” does not equate to “comprehensive, appropriate care for children in orphanages,” or otherwise in desperate need of decent health care, safety, food, clean water, and education.
Nor does “international adoption” in itself equate to “abuse by adoptive families.” That said, we need to keep the spotlight on protection of children, and on family preservation. My fear is that as the stories fade from the news, or as big policies change, the needs of children and their parents will fade from awareness as well.
I have no further information about this news story, and will add to it as I hear more.
Thank God the trafficking and abuse, and exploitation will end. Ethiopian children, and all children should not be sold for profit. It’s been a long and difficult fight.
The reason Ethiopia is closing down is because international adoption agencies, with their huge fees charged to adoptive parents and consequent financial fire power, have corrupted the system, turning it into a market for children, where dealers go from house to house in poor Ethiopian neighbourhoods to convince parents of giving up their children. In some cases children are stolen and reported “found in the street”. Papers are systematically forged, and the adoption agencies have been turning a blind eye to let the business go on as usual. The Ethiopian people have become SICK of that.
There are many people who feel the way that you do. I don’t disagree that these scenarios have taken place. Money has played a tragic role in adoption from Ethiopia, in many ways and through many people. I have to hope that some positive changes will take place, and the voices of adoptees and first parents will be fully heard.