International adoption after a disaster

When there is a natural disaster or a conflict in a particular part of the world, the media provide us with emotionally-charged images of and news reports on abandoned children. These can result in the humanitarian impulse to take in one of the children.

However, immediately thinking of adopting one of those children is not an appropriate response to their needs and rights. In an emergency situation, it is necessary to avoid rushing into things or making alarmist and emotional statements.

In reality, an unaccompanied child who has no close family and has been abandoned to his or her fate is not necessarily an orphan, at least as long as the father's and mother's death have not been determined. Efforts must first be made to find family members, and ensure that the child remains in the country of origin and is raised in his or her culture. In general, a relatively long period of time must elapse before international adoption can be considered.

Remember that international adoption is above all a measure to protect the child, and therefore a last resort solution.

In the event of crisis, conflict or natural disaster, the priority must be to trace the child's family members. Every effort must be made to reunite separated children with their families, even if it takes several months before the situation is clearly established.

We must also ensure that the authorities responsible for intercountry adoption are stable and functional before taking any decision to adopt a child, to avoid any illegal, irregular or premature adoption abroad.

See International principles of adoption rights to find out more about measures designed to protect the best interests of the child.

International organizations in the field, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, take steps to find the members of a same family and attempt to prevent separations. In the event of a separation, they see that the child receives the needed protection and assistance, based on age, sex and history, while seeking to find a long-term solution for the child.

Those organizations ensure that the children reintegrate their families as soon as possible, so they can remain in their country and be raised in their culture of origin.

Experience has shown that a large number of children finally find their parents or are taken in charge by the extended family or a significant person in their environment or community.

For more information, consult the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees website.

SASIE adheres to the guidelines established by the international community, which state that in emergency situations:

• Priority must be given to family reunification.
• Measures to protect children from fraudulent adoptions must be encouraged and supported. The countries concerned also have their own laws and regulations applying to such situations.
• The evacuation of children in a crisis context raises the question of the trauma suffered by the child and the ability of adoptive families to deal with it in a short space of time.

The processing of adoption files in regions affected by natural disasters or political conflict is very often suspended.

In such cases, the immediate reaction of the authorities in the various states, including Québec, is to establish contact with their usual respondents and keep in touch in order to monitor the situation closely and gauge the impact of the event on adoption projects in progress.