KL
01-05-2005, 04:11 PM
http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,11863938%5E28477,00.html
Aussies desperate to adopt
By Stavro Sofios
January 6, 2005
HUNDREDS of Australian families have offered to adopt children orphaned in
the tsunami disaster.
But authorities said yesterday overseas adoptions were highly unlikely
because they would not be in the "best interest" of child victims.
The Department of Community Services and aid agencies have been overwhelmed
by inquiries from couples and families about adoptions.
"The first consideration is to keep them in their home country," a DOCS
spokesman said yesterday.
The United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF, said it would not support or
encourage inter-country adoption.
"We believe children are best left where they are in environments that are
familiar to them, in a culture that's familiar to them, speaking a language
that they know, and in the schools that they're already going to," UNICEF
Australia chief executive Carolyn Hardy said yesterday. "To uplift them out
of their country to Australia or anywhere else would be an absolute last
resort."
The Adoptive Families Association said it was inappropriate to relocate
child victims overseas and that people who had offered to adopt were
well-meaning but unrealistic. Overseas adoption groups said Australian
governments should keep their options open.
"Many of the children in the orphanages might not be orphans, their parents
or families could be found tomorrow or next week, but if they are not then
we have to move to the next step," Australian Inter-Country Adoption Network
national co-ordinator Ricky Brisson said.
"If these governments say these children are available for adoption, they
should be allowed into Australia."
Australia does not have an adoption agreement with Indonesia but does with
Thailand and Sri Lanka.
--
KL
"You don't love someone because they are beautiful, they are beautiful
because you love them." - Anon.
Aussies desperate to adopt
By Stavro Sofios
January 6, 2005
HUNDREDS of Australian families have offered to adopt children orphaned in
the tsunami disaster.
But authorities said yesterday overseas adoptions were highly unlikely
because they would not be in the "best interest" of child victims.
The Department of Community Services and aid agencies have been overwhelmed
by inquiries from couples and families about adoptions.
"The first consideration is to keep them in their home country," a DOCS
spokesman said yesterday.
The United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF, said it would not support or
encourage inter-country adoption.
"We believe children are best left where they are in environments that are
familiar to them, in a culture that's familiar to them, speaking a language
that they know, and in the schools that they're already going to," UNICEF
Australia chief executive Carolyn Hardy said yesterday. "To uplift them out
of their country to Australia or anywhere else would be an absolute last
resort."
The Adoptive Families Association said it was inappropriate to relocate
child victims overseas and that people who had offered to adopt were
well-meaning but unrealistic. Overseas adoption groups said Australian
governments should keep their options open.
"Many of the children in the orphanages might not be orphans, their parents
or families could be found tomorrow or next week, but if they are not then
we have to move to the next step," Australian Inter-Country Adoption Network
national co-ordinator Ricky Brisson said.
"If these governments say these children are available for adoption, they
should be allowed into Australia."
Australia does not have an adoption agreement with Indonesia but does with
Thailand and Sri Lanka.
--
KL
"You don't love someone because they are beautiful, they are beautiful
because you love them." - Anon.
