There were a number of articles this weekend about the pending Irish-Vietnamese agreement, which apparently is/was signed Monday, all saying pretty much the same thing. This is good news, especially for Irish families who have been waiting years to adopt. But at the end of one article, we find this word of caution:
However, those seeking to adopt may still face significant delays because new safeguards in Vietnam mean there will be fewer children available to adopt.
Is it just me, or does that sound as though the reporter thinks new safeguards are a bad thing? Granted, I am very cynical after all I’ve seen and heard in the last eleven years, but I really think this is a problem endemic to Western attitudes in general. Over and over again, I see the same type of response to the news of stronger regulations being put in place, in countries all over the world – “What? It’s going to take longer? Because of safeguards! The nerve!” “Fewer children available? This is a travesty! Someone must do something!”
And what comes next? The agencies get pressured to reduce waiting times. And the only way to do that is to increase the supply to meet the demand. And how to we increase supply? Well, let’s just find ways around those ridiculous “safeguards”. It’s only red tape. We just want what is best for the children.
This is where the rubber meets the road. Do we really want ethical adoptions, or do we just say that in the middle of a shutdown when it seems like the thing to say to get things moving forward? If the corrupt practices of the past are in fact prevented by these new safeguards then there absolutely will be less children available to adopt. And that is a good thing. Because the truth is that not all children in orphanages are actually orphans. (It is not at all uncommon for poor families to send their kids to orphanages for a time while the parents go off to work somewhere, or in order for them to get an education.) And most of the true orphans? Are not tiny little babies. And if we actually mean what we say when we declare that all we want is for children to have families, then we should be happy to know that with safeguards in place more children will get to stay with their first families. It should be worth a “significant delay” to be certain that the child you adopt really truly needed to be adopted into your family.
UPDATE: The Irish-Vietnamese Agreement has been signed. According to the Irish Times:
“I know over the last number of months that the new standard has caused a certain level of uncertainty and anxiety for prospective adoptive parents, said Dr Geoffrey Shannon, chairman of the AAI and signatory on its behalf.
“But that was necessary in terms of building the infrastructure to ensure that we not just facilitate intercountry adoption but that we regulate it in the manner that best protects and promotes the best interests of children. Adoption must be in the best interest of children. Consents must be properly obtained and not produced by payment.
I couldn’t agree more.
4 Responses
I think you are reaching. The author is simply stating a fact, timelines will be significantly long, no surprise to anyone in the adoption world. I like to be a little more optimistic and not always be looking for the negative. I tend to get turned off by these posts as they are so preachy.
You are probably right. I was probably reaching. Generally I do like to give people the benefit of the doubt. I think it was the phrasing “may still face significant delays” that could or should have been put differently if they did not mean to imply that such delays were a nuisance that should be overcome. I’m sorry if the negative/preachy tone of my post bothered you; unfortunately after 11 years of watching agencies and PAPs twist themselves into pretzels trying to justify inappropriate (and often downright corrupt) actions in the name of “smoothing” the process for the “good of the children” I often jump to that conclusion. I am heartened to see the Irish officials making the safeguarding of the process a real priority and I have every hope that things can be different this time. And I believe that an awareness of the dangers of impatience can only serve to help in that regard.
Safeguards are a GREAT thing, but NOT if they are keeping true orphans from finding their forever families!! We spoke to our son’s birthfamily. This was the decision that THEY made for him. There are many true orphans, and other children, that deserve families and red tape shouldn’t hinder that. It is balancing act, I know.
Hi,
I’m one of the Irish PAPs waiting a very long time for Vietnam to reopen! I am just wondering do you have any idea how long it might take for agencies to receive accreditation with the Vietnamese authorities? That’s what we are waiting for before we can begin to submit our packs.
Thanks!