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08-19-2004, 02:53 AM
http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=955652004
The Scotsman
Wed 18 Aug 2004
Schröder joins foreign adoption trend
IAN JOHNSTON AND ALLAN HALL IN GERMANY
AS A 60-year-old man, Gerhard Schröder, the German Chancellor, had
little chance of adopting a child in his own country.
So, like many people who find themselves at the end of the adoption
queue in western countries, it was revealed yesterday that he went
abroad, adopting a three-year-old girl from a Russian orphanage.
Adoption seems increasingly popular among celebrities with actresses
such as Angelina Jolie, Calista Flockhart, Michelle Pfeiffer, Kirstie
Alley, Sharon Stone and Jamie Lee Curtis - to name but a few - taking
that route to parenthood. There have been suspicions that some adopters
are simply "too posh to push" or decide pregnancy would damage their
careers.
But age may well have been the main issue for Mr Schröder and his fourth
wife Doris, 41.
They were fortunate to have such a powerful friend as the Russian
president, Vladimir Putin, to cut through any red tape - if that was
necessary - involved in adopting young Victoria from a St Petersburg
children’s home.
In the UK no such patronage would be allowed. Following the Kilshaw
scandal - in which American twin girls were allegedly bought over the
internet - the rules in this country have been made as tight as those
covering the adoption of British children. However, going overseas is
still an accepted way for older parents to secure a young child.
According to reports yesterday, Victoria was moved into the luxurious
weekend home of the chancellor in Hanover about a week ago.
It is understood that Mrs Schröder-Kopf - who has a daughter, Klara, 13,
from a previous marriage - was the driving force. She champions
children’s issues and supports an educational clinic in Albania and a
charity in St Petersburg.
Barbara Hudson, the director of the British Association for Adoption and
Fostering in Scotland, said the news highlighted some serious issues
involved with international adoption.
"You cannot have a more vulnerable child. They’ve lost their birth
family, they are going to lose their country and culture of origin and
be brought up by strangers," she said.
"People have perhaps become a bit concerned about the adoption process
in the UK, which is much more open.
"They often have a perception that overseas adoption may mean younger
children are placed with them and they don’t have to deal with the
complexity of children having contact with the original family."
In Scotland there were 370 adoptions in 2003 with 15 involving children
from overseas, with China, Russia and India being popular destinations
for overseas adopters.
A leading psychologist, Dr Jack Boyle, said it was "very unusual" for a
man of 60 to want to adopt a child.
"I suspect it’s his wife who is behind this. He’s a busy man, he’s not
going to see much of the kid. It may be just a means of keeping her
happy. He’s not the first guy to do it," Dr Boyle said.
©2004 Scotsman.com
______________________
Reprinted for educational purposes only.
The Scotsman
Wed 18 Aug 2004
Schröder joins foreign adoption trend
IAN JOHNSTON AND ALLAN HALL IN GERMANY
AS A 60-year-old man, Gerhard Schröder, the German Chancellor, had
little chance of adopting a child in his own country.
So, like many people who find themselves at the end of the adoption
queue in western countries, it was revealed yesterday that he went
abroad, adopting a three-year-old girl from a Russian orphanage.
Adoption seems increasingly popular among celebrities with actresses
such as Angelina Jolie, Calista Flockhart, Michelle Pfeiffer, Kirstie
Alley, Sharon Stone and Jamie Lee Curtis - to name but a few - taking
that route to parenthood. There have been suspicions that some adopters
are simply "too posh to push" or decide pregnancy would damage their
careers.
But age may well have been the main issue for Mr Schröder and his fourth
wife Doris, 41.
They were fortunate to have such a powerful friend as the Russian
president, Vladimir Putin, to cut through any red tape - if that was
necessary - involved in adopting young Victoria from a St Petersburg
children’s home.
In the UK no such patronage would be allowed. Following the Kilshaw
scandal - in which American twin girls were allegedly bought over the
internet - the rules in this country have been made as tight as those
covering the adoption of British children. However, going overseas is
still an accepted way for older parents to secure a young child.
According to reports yesterday, Victoria was moved into the luxurious
weekend home of the chancellor in Hanover about a week ago.
It is understood that Mrs Schröder-Kopf - who has a daughter, Klara, 13,
from a previous marriage - was the driving force. She champions
children’s issues and supports an educational clinic in Albania and a
charity in St Petersburg.
Barbara Hudson, the director of the British Association for Adoption and
Fostering in Scotland, said the news highlighted some serious issues
involved with international adoption.
"You cannot have a more vulnerable child. They’ve lost their birth
family, they are going to lose their country and culture of origin and
be brought up by strangers," she said.
"People have perhaps become a bit concerned about the adoption process
in the UK, which is much more open.
"They often have a perception that overseas adoption may mean younger
children are placed with them and they don’t have to deal with the
complexity of children having contact with the original family."
In Scotland there were 370 adoptions in 2003 with 15 involving children
from overseas, with China, Russia and India being popular destinations
for overseas adopters.
A leading psychologist, Dr Jack Boyle, said it was "very unusual" for a
man of 60 to want to adopt a child.
"I suspect it’s his wife who is behind this. He’s a busy man, he’s not
going to see much of the kid. It may be just a means of keeping her
happy. He’s not the first guy to do it," Dr Boyle said.
©2004 Scotsman.com
______________________
Reprinted for educational purposes only.
