Adoption and Human Rights

The controversy over international adoption in recent months with Haiti and currently with Russia is not new. There has been intense debate going on for years over this issue. Questions are raised concerning the best interests of the children. Some argue that no child should be taken from their culture and placed into another culture. Others argue that adoption should be the absolute last resort, behind in-country fostercare or institutionalization. Others argue that adoption is the solution for the orphan crisis and should be made more accessible.

The movement I would align myself with believes passionately in adoption and at the same time understands the limitations and complexity of the global orphan crisis. That said, I believe there is need for more education on the issues and for us to better equip ourselves with not only biblical arguments but factual, social, and political arguments as well.

One of the voices arguing on behalf of international adoption that has been of great help to me and many others is Harvard Law Professor Elizabeth Bartholet. Dr. Bartholet is a renowned expert on international adoption and has written some of the most informed and well-argued opinions on the issues. Here are a few of her articles below. I encourage everyone to read them and share with others:

International Adoption: The Human Rights Position (appearing in the Global Policy Journal)
Amid Disaster, Haitian Orphans Find Homes (appearing on the NPR website)
Haiti’s Children and the Adoption Question (appearing in the NY Times)