EurAdopt 2018

EurAdopt is an association of professional organisations devoted to international adoption from 14 European countries, including France: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

In France, the AAA “Les Amis des Enfants du Monde” is already part of this international organisation and will shortly be joined officially by COFA.

What are its objectives? 

• Defending international adoption as a way of protecting childhood, when it occurs in the best interests of children, with respect for their fundamental rights, and based on the principle of subsidiarity.
• Promoting the application of our Ethical Rules for international adoption.
• Encouraging cooperation between public authorities and authorised private adoption organisations.
• Sharing knowledge on international adoption and related issues.
• Endeavouring to improve legislation and other child protection measures.
• Promoting the ratification of the 1993 Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption, or furthering accession to it by all relevant States, as well as accession to the principles of this convention, including by countries which have not signed it.

EurAdopt Conference:

Representatives from EurAdopt’s member organisations come together every two years for a general assembly. On this occasion, they organise a Conference that is open to the public to discuss topics relating to international adoption. A broad range of personalities speak over the course of these two or three days.

The last EurAdopt Conference took place in Milan in May 2018. Its theme was: “The Dilemma of International Adoption.”

Discussions covered adoption as the most effective way of protecting the best interests of children. Academics, legal experts and psychologists from the Permanent Bureau of the Hague Conference attended.

It was noted that international adoption is changing: the past circumstances of adoptable children and the profile of adopters have evolved. Both positive and negative effects are reflected in the decreasing number of adoptions. Experts from originating and arrival countries contributed to these debates.

All the speeches can be found on:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/150DMPN5IoywuA73ty6oOxxIuWO_Kl4Ni

You will find interesting information, such as:

• “Transborder surrogate motherhood,” also called “gestational surrogacy,” which is said to have already exceeded the figures for international adoption.
• Between 2000 and 2009, 380,000 children were adopted in 23 countries. Between 2010 and 2016, this number dropped to 123,000. Detailed developments for each country (origins and destinations) are available.

Searching for birth parents is fundamental for adoptees: it is not about being curious, researching, family reunification, or searching for medical information: it is what enables them to feel that they are “whole.” In this respect, it is a question of human dignity and social justice. More on this topic: “L’amour qui me reste,” by Michela Marzano.