Ethiopia: Stakeholders, Public Has to End Foreign Adoption

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Ethiopia: Stakeholders, Public Has to End Foreign Adoption

BY ZERYHUN KASSA, 26 DECEMBER 2013

The House of Peoples' Representatives and the Ministry of Women, Children and Youth urged stakeholders and the public to undertake integrated work to totally stop adoption of Ethiopian children by foreign families.

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 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.

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