Uganda: Make Inter-Country Adoption Process Easier
Uganda: Make Inter-Country Adoption Process Easier
OPINION
By Isaac Obiro Ekirapa
On December 17, I watched and listened from the Gallery as the Parliament began the debate on The Children (Amendment) Bill 2015.
The points that stood out in the debate were the establishment of a Children's Authority and Inter-Country Adoption. Majority of the legislators agreed on the creation of the Authority in the hope that it will enable more funding and efficient management and coordination of children related issues.
I was, however, alarmed by the views expressed by many legislators on Inter-County Adoption.
The sessional committee on gender, labour and social development that listened to various stakeholders and experts on matters related to Inter-country Adoption tabled a report recommending the reduction of the fostering period before adoption to six months from the current 36 months.
Many Legislators, however, did not agree with the Committee on this point and recommended that Inter- Country Adoption be made as "difficult as drawing water from a rock".
The basis for the hard stance on Inter-country Adoption was the contributions of some legislators that children who are the subject of Inter-County Adoption are taken for purposes of "organ trade" and other forms of exploitation like homosexuality and prostitution.
Without any evidence tabled to this effect, the legislators appeared to have 'bought' this position and moved to save our children.
I have had numerous opportunities to appreciate the process of inter-country adoption and legal guardianship and members of the committee (who unlike their colleagues) interfaced with various experts appreciated the good in inter-country adoption.
The role of adoption agencies in ensuring that applicants are fit to adopt is important. The United States for instance will only allow Hague accredited agencies to place children for inter-country adoption.
These agencies sign contracts with prospective applicants in which it is agreed that the agency will continue supervising and overseeing the child's progress upon arrival in the foreign country.
These agencies long to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the government of Uganda to ensure 100 per cent post placement reporting on every child adopted from Uganda and also go through any licensing process.
Efforts to get the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development to embrace this practice have been futile.
The allegation that children who leave Uganda under inter-country adoption and legal guardianship cannot be traced is wrong and misleading.
Some agencies will for instance not approve a couple where one or both spouses are divorcees unless such couple have been married for at least five years, or persons who seem too busy with their careers, are low income earners or those who do not believe in God. These are restrictions over and above what the law requires.
Applicants present analytical reports called home-studies which reveal details about their personal lives. Our law also requires that applicants produce criminal clearance from their home country.
All this information on the applicants is submitted to the High Court before an order is granted and further verified by the respective embassies before a Visa is issued to the child.
In amending the law on Inter-Country Adoption, Parliament should ensure that monitoring mechanisms are in place, the first such process being licensing agencies with an excellent track record to work in Uganda.
Labelling inter-country adoption as a source for organ trade is intentional malicious propaganda.
Instead of making inter-country adoption impossible by requiring foreign applicants to resign from their jobs and come live in Uganda for six months, it would suffice if the government coordinated with the vetting departments in foreign countries where the applicants come from and satisfied itself that such vetting is excellent and further ensured that future monitoring will be carried out on every child and reports submitted to the Government of Uganda by Hague accredited agencies.
Mr Ekirapa is a practising advocate.
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