Between 1999 and 2016, more than 15,000 children from Ethiopia were adopted by families in the United States, according to the U.S. State Department. However, the country’s parliament recently voted that it would no longer allow foreign adoption of its children.
The decision comes after concerns and findings that children were being abused or even killed by their new parents. There were also concerns that children were becoming victims of sex trafficking after being adopted.
In 2013, Larry and Carri Williams of Washington state, were convicted of starving and beating their 13-year old Ethiopian daughter. The couple was also convicted of severely abusing another young boy, who was also adopted from Ethiopia.
Ethiopia feels that children in these vulnerable positions should be cared for through special services. However, many are skeptical about the longevity of this arrangement due to a lack of funds.
The adoptions of young African children became even more mainstream after Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, as well as Madonna, adopted their children. But with the U.S. suspending Ethiopian adoptions last march, and now this, it has caused U.S. adoption agencies to lose business and ultimately close.
Do you think Ethiopia’s decision is a step in the right direction?