Title: The challenges of international adoption in Madagascar: a provisional suspension maintained by France
Introduction :
International adoption is a complex practice that aims to provide a new family to children in need. Unfortunately, some procedural gaps and inappropriate practices can affect the legitimacy of this process. Madagascar, a country affected by these problems, is facing a temporary suspension of international adoption from France, which wishes to ensure the protection of children’s rights. This article addresses the challenges Madagascar faces in the field of international adoption and the measures taken by France to remedy them.
1. The failings of the Malagasy authorities:
According to a report by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, the Malagasy authorities have been accused of failings linked to international adoption. This report highlighted illegal practices such as “child abduction”, “fake orphan making” and “forced abandonment of newborns”. These acts are orchestrated by criminal networks to meet the demands of adoptive parents. These inappropriate practices aroused concern in France, which decided to temporarily suspend the adoption of Malagasy children.
2. UN recommendations:
The UN report highlighted the importance for Malagasy authorities to raise awareness and address the root causes of illegal adoption. Measures must be taken to help vulnerable families and fill the legislative gap in the implementation of the new adoption law adopted in 2017. France, concerned with the protection of children’s rights, has taken into account these recommendations and suspended international adoption while waiting for concrete actions to be taken by the Malagasy authorities.
3. The consequences for adoptive parents:
The temporary suspension of international adoption in Madagascar has significant consequences for French adoptive parents. Direct individual approaches with Malagasy orphanages were banned last year, forcing adoptive parents to go through public organizations. This prolongs the length of the process and creates uncertainty about the ultimate outcome of the adoption. However, this decision is made in the best interests of the child to ensure their protection and well-being.
Conclusion :
The temporary suspension of international adoption in Madagascar reflects the persistent challenges the country faces in this area. The illegal practices and failings of the Malagasy authorities led to this decision by France, which wishes to preserve the rights and safety of children. It is crucial that Madagascar takes concrete measures to eliminate these inappropriate practices and put in place measures to protect children’s rights. In the meantime, French adoptive parents must be patient and understanding, in the hope that these problems can be resolved in order to give another chance to Malagasy children who need a loving family.