Compassion for Orphans

24/09/2021

Is it ethical to adopt a child from overseas?
There are some moral issues when it comes to Intercountry Adoption. Some of the reasons why there may be an anti-intercountry adoption view include:



“That you are robbing a country of its children and the children of their culture and language”;

“That you have bought a baby”;

“That it is better to leave a child to be brought up in its own race and culture even if it means a lifetime in an institution”;

“That adopting a child is putting a band-aid on and ignoring the real problem which is helping a country out of poverty”, and;

“That trans-racial adoption can result in a child with a confused identity and racism can result.”



​In many circumstances, these are valid statements and any suggestion of intercountry adoption as an option for a child must be considered against the backdrop of these statements.



My argument in this blog supports intercountry adoption as an alternative care arrangement for a child in limited circumstances only when conducted ethically, with full transparency and with the best interests of the child being the paramount consideration.



Ideally, there should be no intercountry adoption. Overseas countries should be supported and encouraged to implement a system based on the development of domestic family type solutions for children separated from their families (where such systems are not currently in place). This makes it possible to decrease the need for intercountry adoption.



Unless there are situations where a child’s individual needs may determine that intercountry adoption could be prioritised (e.g. an urgent medical need where relatives are living overseas), intercountry adoption should be a last resort measure when a domestic solution has not been found for the child after every genuine effort has been made to find a domestic solution.



If it is determined that intercountry adoption is in the best interest of the child, there is an international convention (The Hague Convention of 29 May 1993 on Protection of Children and Co-Operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption) that New Zealand is a party to.



By setting out clear procedures and prohibiting improper financial gain, the Convention provides greater security, predictability and transparency for all parties to the adoption, including prospective adoptive parents. The Convention also establishes a system of co-operation between authorities in countries of origin and receiving countries, designed to ensure that intercountry adoption takes place under conditions that help to guarantee the best adoption practices and elimination of abuses.



FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY



Further protection is ensuring there is financial transparency. We at 'Compassion for Orphans' seek to only facilitate adoptions with countries that do not charge fees for intercountry adoption. We currently have active programmes with Chile and Thailand. Both of these countries do not charge a fee to process the adoption. This is an important factor in that there is no financial incentive for any party to place the child for intercountry adoption

04/05/2019

"Our Philosophy" (abbreviated) - see the full version on our website here: https://www.cfo.org.nz/philosophy

1. The international community’s primary objective should be to assist birth parents to keep and bring up their children or for this to occur within their extended family (provided this is in the best interests of the child).

2. The best interests of the child and respect for their fundamental human rights, as recognised in international law, must be the paramount consideration.

3. Adoption can offer a permanent and appropriate family to a child who is definitively deprived of his or her family environment or whose best interests requires a change of environment (ISS - International Social Service Organisation).

4. There must be no improper financial gains or profit making in intercountry adoption. Unfortunately, in many cases intercountry adoption has involved profit making to the extent that children are treated as commodities. Abuses in the process have involved child trafficking, abduction, child abuse, criminal networks, agencies and intermediaries charging exorbitant fees. ‘Compassion for Orphans’ is completely opposed to any and all corrupt practices.

5. Encouragement and support for adoptive parents who have a special calling – sharing a loving home with children in need, offering them hope for a brighter future.

27/04/2019

"Our Aims and Guiding Principles" (abbreviated) - see the full version on our website here:
https://www.cfo.org.nz/aims-and-guiding-principles

1) To Glorify God
​
2) To only intermediate intercountry adoptions from countries who have ratified or acceded to the 1993 Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption and governed by the Adoption (Intercountry) Act 1997.

3) To scrupulously apply International Standards in the Best Interests of the Child.
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4) Encouraging countries that have not done so to become parties to International Conventions.

5) To challenge all costs in the intercountry adoption process.

6) To promote and to assist with a better environment so that biological families are able to raise their children.

7) To foster excellent working relationships with all parties involved in the adoption process.

As a Christian organisation our main aim is TO GLORIFY GOD. We do this by Caring for Orphans (without discrimination). Striving for excellence in systems, operations, procedures and communications and international best practice to ensure the rights and best interests of the children are protected a...

20/04/2019

"Our Mission Statement"

To help legally adoptable orphans, from countries who have ratified or acceded to the Hague Convention, be united with loving New Zealand families willing to raise, protect and nurture them – where the adoption is in the best interests of the child.

See more on our website here:

Our Missions is to help legally adoptable orphans, from countries who have ratified or acceded to the Hague Convention, be united with loving New Zealand families willing to raise, protect and nurture them – where the adoption is in the best interests of the child.

13/04/2019

There are several questions we get asked on a regular basis about intercountry adoption, so we have complied a list of answers for you on our FAQ page here: https://www.cfo.org.nz/faq

The questions we answer are as follows:

- What is intercountry adoption?
- Who oversees intercountry adoption programmes?
- What are intercountry adoption standards?
- What is the Hague Convention?
- From what country can a child be adopted?
- Do we need to belong to a particular faith to adopt?
- What age are the children?
- What is the cost to adopt?
- How long does it take?
- Is there any support available?
- What if the family experiences problems?
- What is the eligibility criteria?

10/04/2019

"Our Vision Statement"

To follow God’s calling to reconcile people to God, through the Lord Jesus Christ,(1) and to care for orphans.(2)

(1) “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation” 2 Corinthians 5:18 NKJV

(2) “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unspotted by the world” James 1:27 NKJV

“…‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me’” Matthew 25:40 NKJV

Read more on our website here:

Our Vision is to follow God’s calling to reconcile people to God, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and to care for orphans.

02/04/2019

"What Is Intercountry Adoption?"

Intercountry adoption is the process by which you adopt a child from a country other than your own through permanent legal means and then bring that child to your country of residence to live with you permanently.

There is an international convention (which New Zealand is a signatory to), the Hague Convention of 29 May 1993 on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. The Convention seeks to ensure that intercountry adoptions are made in the best interests of the child and with respect for his or her fundamental rights. It also seeks to prevent the abduction, the sale of, or traffic in children.
We only facilitate adoptions with countries who are signatories to the Hague Convention.

Continue reading on our website here: https://www.cfo.org.nz/intercountry-adoption

29/03/2019

"Support For Families"

We at ‘Compassion for Orphans’ are committed to supporting adoptive families. Adoption success begins with a commitment to support adoptive families. Successful adoption programmes require the recognition that adoption is a lifelong process and the understanding that there will be lifelong challenges associated with adoption. Adopted children often have experienced significant trauma as a result of some type of mistreatment.

To find out more and to continue reading, visit our website here: https://www.cfo.org.nz/supporting-families

23/03/2019

Did you know our service has no fees?

One of our main aims is to make intercountry adoption affordable for the average New Zealand family and we do this by challenging all costs in the process. The Chile and Thailand Government do not require any payments and since our inception in 2003 we have not charged families any fees.

Find out more on our website here:

We do not receive any government funding and since our inception (in 2003) we have not charged any adoption fees to applicants or adoptive parents. The reason for this is that one of our major aims is to reduce the cost of intercountry adoption, so that it is affordable for the average New Zealand f...

15/03/2019

"What Is Best For The Child Is Paramount"

For the full harmonious development of his or her personality, the child should grow up in a family environment in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding. (Preamble to 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child).


For many children, for one reason or another, they are unable to live with their biological parents. One of the key principles for undertaking intercountry adoptions stipulated within international conventions is the principle of subsidiarity.

Continue reading on our website here:

For the full harmonious development of his or her personality, the child should grow up in a family environment in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding. (Preamble to 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child).

08/03/2019

"Is It Ethical To Adopt A Child From Overseas?"

There are some moral issues when it comes to Intercountry Adoption. Some of the reasons why there may be an anti-intercountry adoption view include:

- “That you are robbing a country of its children and the children of their culture and language”;
- “That you have bought a baby”;
- “That it is better to leave a child to be brought up in its own race and culture even if it means a lifetime in an institution”;
- “That adopting a child is putting a band-aid on and ignoring the real problem which is helping a country out of poverty”, and;
- “That trans-racial adoption can result in a child with a confused identity and racism can result.”

​In many circumstances these are valid statements and any suggestion of intercountry adoption as an option for a child must be considered against the backdrop of these statements.

Continue reading this blog post our our website here: https://www.cfo.org.nz/single-post/2018/04/04/Is-it-ethical-to-adopt-a-child-from-overseas

01/03/2019

Please visit our website if you would like to find out more about ethically adopting an orphaned child from Thailand into New Zealand. We are accredited by the Thailand Central Authority to intermediate adoption from Thailand.
https://www.cfo.org.nz/thailand-programme