In the recently released outcome document of the Fifth International Policy Conference on the African Child, conference delegates call for a reversal of the current trend of resorting to intercountry adoption as a primary solution for African children in need of alternative care, and for giving prime priority to enabling all children in Africa to remain with their families and communities. The delegates urge that intercountry adoption should be guided by the best interests of the child, applied only when an alternative family environment cannot be found in the home country and in line with the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.
They call upon African states to assume and honor their responsibility for ensuring the wellbeing of Africa’s children, including children without parental care. Recommendations include ensuring that:
- African governments give absolute priority to enabling all children in Africa to remain with their families and communities and when considering intercountry adoption, put in place appropriate legislative measures to ensure proper safeguards.
- Civil societies monitor government compliance with their treaty obligations and raise awareness on domestic family-care options.
Treaty bodies such as the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child were called upon to monitor developments in African countries regarding intercountry adoption and the observance of internationally recognized safeguards and the Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children. Additionally, it was recommended that the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child pay special attention to the compliance of both “receiving countries” and “countries of origin” with intercountry adoption standards, and the commitment of “countries of origin” to developing appropriate and effective domestic response to children without parental care.
