The government is considering making international adoption state-level: It could hit gays and singles
The government is considering making international adoption statewide: It could hit gays and singles
The policy has come into possession of internal notes from the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Interior, which show that Astrid Krag is considering a state model for international adoption. Parties fear the consequences.
DENMARK AUG 30 2020 AT 09.09
ANJA SØNDERGÅRD
Journalist
On the negotiating table between the parliamentary parties, there is a consideration that the dissemination of international adoption should be moved to the National Board of Appeal, which is under the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Interior.
It appears from internal documents that Politiken has come into possession of.
At present, the non-governmental organization Danish International Adoption (DIA) is responsible for the placement of children for international adoption in Denmark.
The internal documents state that a state handling of international adoption will lead to a reduction in the number of partners from abroad, as they either cannot or do not want to cooperate with the state on adoption.
'The four countries that are not expected to continue cooperating with a state actor are South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan and Burkino Faso. It is not the intention that the number of partner countries is subsequently sought to be expanded,' the documents state.
Precisely for this reason, the consideration meets with criticism from several sides. Because, as the internal documents show, a reduction in partner countries may mean that certain groups of applicants cannot adopt internationally.
According to Michael Paaske, chairman of Adoption og Samfund [Adoption and Society], the National Association for Adopted and Relatives, it will especially affect gay couples and singles.
"If the mediation for international adoption comes under the state, and South Africa, therefore, stops cooperating with Denmark, gay couples in Denmark will no longer have the opportunity to adopt, as South Africa is the only country that allows adoption to homosexuals," he says.
A state model also meets with criticism from several parties at Christiansborg. The Liberal Party's social rapporteur, Marie Bjerre, says it is incomprehensible and they cannot support a state transition for several reasons:
“We do not believe that a state model will make it better or cheaper. This will mean a significant decrease in the number of international adoptions. And it would be sad if gay couples and single people no longer had the option of adoption. "
The radical family rapporteur, Anne Sophie Callesen, is also skeptical of the minister's considerations:
“We are concerned that nationalization will mean that up to half of the international adoptions will lapse. But there are children in the world who need to be adopted into a family. Therefore, we think it is obvious that we from the Danish side provide good opportunities for them to be adopted here, "she says and continues:
"If we actively choose a model where we cut a lot of adoptions off, we will create a larger market for commercial surrogacy mothers in other countries because some families will go to great lengths to have a family and therefore use that opportunity."
International adoption may die out
About half of all adoptions in Denmark are from South Africa. And if adoption from here is limited, Michael Paaske from Adoption and Society predicts a general stop to international adoption in the long term:
“In the short term, it could mean a soft closure for international adoption because South Africa is such an important partner in the field that it will have a contagious effect on other countries. So in the long run, it could mean that international adoption dies out.
The internal documents state:
"There is also a risk of a temporary complete or partial cessation of international adoption in a transitional phase."
The number of international adoptions globally has been declining in recent years. In Denmark, the number of international adoptions fell by 63 percent between 2013 and 2018. And since DIA's primary source of income comes from fees from applicants, their finances are also declining.
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