International Principles
Concerning international adoption
A subsidiary measure
Adoption must be considered only when the competent authorities determine that it is impossible to keep a child in his or her family environment, community or country of origin.
A social and legal child protection measure
A child must not be the subject of an arrangement between individuals, or be entrusted to intermediaries who are unqualified or whose practices or motives are questionable. International adoption cases must be handled only by competent child protection authorities.
A measure in the best interests of the child and in respect of his or her fundamental rights
Any measure intended to protect a child must be governed by the child's best interests and respect for his or her fundamental rights. The child's moral, intellectual, emotional and physical needs, age, health, personality and family environment must be considered.
A solution that provides a permanent living environment
It is important to provide the child with a permanent living environment, so that he or she can enjoy the socio-affective stability that all children need to develop and reach their full potential.
Concerning the child
The adoptable child
Before adoption can be considered, the authorities of the country of origin must declare the child legally adoptable.
The right to know one’s origins
The authorities of each country must preserve the information they have on the child's origins, including the identity of the child's parents, as well as the child's medical history and that of his or her family.
In addition, they must ensure that the child or his or her representative has access to that information, with the appropriate advice and to the extent provided by law.
Concerning adopters and the adoption process
Recognition of suitability to adopt a child
A person who would like to adopt a child must be recognized as capable of meeting on a permanent, sustained basis the moral, intellectual, emotional and physical needs of a child who has possibly suffered various traumas and rejection.
Fight against profiteering and the exploitation, trafficking and sale of children
A child must not be a source of material or other gain for anyone under any circumstances. The exploitation, sale or trafficking of children violates human rights and must be fought.
Exploitation means:
- unfair pressure on the biological mother to give the child up for adoption;
- adoptions arranged prior to birth;
- child kidnappings;
- arrangements with surrogate mothers who are remunerated;
- unethical and fraudulent practices by unscrupulous individuals seeking to obtain a child to offer for adoption.