Ethiopian parliament has banned international adoptions by foreigners in an effort to protect children from possible abuse by their new parents.
Foreigners seeking to adopt children from the country will have to look to other African countries to fulfill their aspirations of having children from the continent.
According to moguldom.com, an American couple was jailed in 2012 for the death of their adopted 13-year old Ethiopian daughter. They beat and starved the girl, who they adopted in 2008.
International adoptions from Ethiopia and elsewhere in Africa have been long-running but they seem to have gained popularity as major celebrities, including Hollywood and stars Mary-Louise Parker, Angelina Jolie and pop veteran Madonna adopted African children.
International adoptions from Ethiopia and elsewhere in Africa have been long-running but they seem to have gained popularity as major celebrities, including Hollywood and stars Mary-Louise Parker, Angelina Jolie and pop veteran Madonna adopted African children.
But the popularity of adoptions has also raised fears over the possibility of exploiting the process for human trafficking. In 2016, Denmark banned adoptions from Ethiopia, claiming a lack of data on the origins of children adopted from the country could facilitate trafficking. Some other countries have also set up more stringent rules for the international adoption process.
Ethiopia’s parliament says vulnerable children should be catered to by state’s children services. However, there are doubts over the sustainability of that arrangement.
The bans on adoptions have adversely affected U.S.-based adoption agencies which process thousands of adoption requests.
According to moguldom.com, statistics form the US International Adoptions from Ethiopia show that 4,329 children from age 1 year and below were adopted between 199-2016 while 3,966 children between 1year and 2 years were adopted at the same period.
Also, 2,269 children of ages 3 years and 4 years were adopted, while 3,838 children of ages 5year and 12 years were adopted at same period.
The report stated that 873 children of ages 13 years and 17 years and 42 children of 18 years were adopted during the same period
