They were 3551 in 2002 and they are only 1569 in 2012. The number of children adopted abroad fell further in 2012, according to the latest figures from the Quai d’Orsay. After Cambodia, Laos, a new country, The Mali decided at the end of 2012 to block international adoptions, plunging the families whose requests were in progress in deep disarray. Armed conflicts, political instability but also natural disasters, as in Haiti in 2010, have led to the suspension of adoptions in many countries. In addition, there are other factors such as the economic development of the former large countries of origin. China, Brazil and Russia have seen the emergence of a large middle class. The rise in the standard of living of the population is accompanied by a decrease in dropouts. “Child protection is reinforced with the establishment of structures that support mothers and take care of abandoned children,” explains Chantal Cransac, representative of the French adoption agency (AFA). They are now aware that their youth is an asset ”. Another positive point: several countries have embarked on a reform to better regulate adoption procedures by ratifying the Hague Convention. This expressly stipulates that children must be brought up as a priority in their families or adopted in their own country. This is why Mali has adopted a family code which sets this priority and has therefore decided to close itself off from international adoptions.
More and more demanding countries
The countries of origin set their own criteria: age of adopters, standard of living, marriage, etc. Faced with the influx of requests, they are becoming more and more selective. In China, adopters must provide proof of a level 4 diploma (Bac). The authorities also refuse to entrust a child to parents who have insufficient income, health problems or even overweight. Since September 2012, people wishing to adopt in Russia have been required to follow an 80-hour training course. Finally, some countries like Burkina Faso or Cambodia quite simply impose quotas. Result : the number of adopted children decreases and the procedures lengthen. For example, parents who filed an adoption file in 2006 in China only now see their project succeed. Currently, families going through AFA must limit themselves to sending a file to one country. The associations as a whole disapprove of this procedure. “The adoption situation is too fragile,” deplores Hélène Marquié, president of the Cœur Adoption association. News has shown us that overnight a country can close, parents must be able to entrust several projects to the AFA. “
The profile of children has changed
Along with the lengthening of the procedures, the profile of children entrusted to intercountry adoption has changed. Countries now favor adoption at the national level, especially those that have ratified the Hague Convention. Logically, nationals adopt small and healthy children. The children proposed for adoption are then those who are not adopted in their own country. They are “With specific needs”. In other words, most of the time, they are older or they are siblings. They can have a handicap, psychological problems or difficult stories. “10 years ago, when we met postulants, we told them that it may take time but that there is a great chance that their project will materialize, explains Nathalie Parent, President of Children and Adopted Families. (E FA). Today this is no longer the case, there are no more young and healthy children, adopters should know. “In order to prepare and raise awareness among families applying for foster care, AFA has been organizing monthly information meetings on these” different “children since March 2013. The adoptive parents’ associations are also keen to warn applicants about this new reality. “Our role is absolutely not to influence them, it is up to them to see how far they are ready to go,” continues Nathalie Parent. Everyone has their own limits. But in any case we are not going towards a child with specific needs by default. “