Press releases
BAAF advice about the adoption of tsunami victims
Issued: 5 January 2005
This statement applies to the UK
BAAF today gave cautionary advice to the many people who are contacting British adoption agencies offering to adopt children orphaned by the tsunami.
Felicity Collier, Chief Executive of BAAF, said "We understand why people have been so affected by the tragic images of children orphaned by the tsunami, children who are clearly in desperate need of care and attention. We must remember, however, that many children will have become separated from their parents in the confusion following the disaster. There may well be relatives and friends elsewhere in the country who will be seeking to trace them. It would be very wrong, and against internationally agreed standards for adoption, to remove these children overseas and arrange for their adoption at this very difficult and chaotic time.
"BAAF is very concerned to learn that child traffickers appear to be operating in South East Asia and some unscrupulous people have advertised children for adoption. I know that if people are really concerned about the welfare of these children, the last thing they would want to do is to fuel a potential market in child adoption or to deprive children of the opportunity to be reunited with grieving members of their own family.
"I would urge people to consider donating to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) who are working hard to ensure that these children are properly cared for - that they have shelter, food, clean water and medical care. I trust that as soon as possible, every child will have counselling and support while efforts are made to make proper arrangements for their future welfare. We will not know for some time, probably months and possibly years, if adoption overseas may be considered appropriate for some children.
"BAAF always welcomes enquiries from people who are interested in adoption, be it adoption of children waiting in this country or people wanting to know more about adopting children from overseas countries. No-one in Britain is able to bring a child into this country if they have not been approved as suitable by a British adoption agency and the same standards of approval apply for inter-country and domestic adoption."
Ends
Contact:
For members of the press:
If you need more information or would like to arrange an interview about child care issues members of the press can call our media team on 020 7593 2054.
If you have an urgent out of hours press enquiry, please contact the press office on 07767 444 589.
Notes to Editor
- The British Association for Adoption & Fostering is the UK's leading adoption and fostering charity. For more information about adoption, please contact 020 7593 2000 or visit www.baaf.org.uk
- If you need more information please call 020 7593 2000 (or 07767 444 589 outside office hours, for urgent enquiries).
- To donate to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) tsunami earthquake appeal please call 0870 60 60 900 or visit http://www.dec.org.uk/
Further information from the DfES about adoption in countries affected by the Tsunami
Indonesia
The Indonesian embassy in London has informed the DfES that the adoption of Indonesian children has been prohibited. The Indonesian authorities, with the assistance of UNICEF, are working to reunite children with their birth families as its main concern.
Sri Lanka
The Sri Lankan government has announced a ban on adopting children affected by the tsunami. This will not impact on existing applications. New applications will be accepted but only for children who have not been affected by the tsunami will be considered for adoption.
Thailand
The Thai authorities are currently giving priority to other areas and will clarify their position regarding intercountry adoption in the near future.
Read the DfES statement.
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