Adoption must be regulated - not needlessly impeded

03 March 2015 - 02:00 By The Times Editorial
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Adoption is a cumbersome process, complicated by the possibility that those presenting themselves as angels are paedophiles.

With thousands of orphaned young children in need of parents, South Africa is finding it difficult to make the adoption process easy and accommodating.

We are told that about 136 adoptions took place through Johannesburg Child Welfare in 2004 but by last year the number had dropped by almost two-thirds, with only 50 adoptions going through.

Social workers and prospective parents say the Consolidated Children's Act is partly to blame and that it is becoming nearly impossible to adopt a child in South Africa.

According to the National Adoption Coalition of SA, adoptions have decreased by about 50% since 2004 - from 2840 nationally to 1448 last year. The figures are expected to fall even further.

Although we expect the government to regulate adoption, that should not work against children who need a safe home.

We fully agree with the government that stringent measures must be taken to stop the trafficking of children.

And we should confront concerns that, whereas young girls are given the choice of abortion, it is almost impossible for girls of the same age to give their babies up for adoption.

The Consolidated Children's Act has also been blamed for criminalising anonymous child abandonment. Mothers who abandon their babies can be charged with concealment of birth and attempted murder.

"Baby safes" - places where babies may be left in safety by mothers who can no longer care for them - are illegal in terms of the act.

There are a number of other regulations that inhibit prospective parents from going through with an adoption.

We all agree that our children are not up for sale but we should have a way of enabling those who want to raise children in a secure and loving home to do so.

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