Child protection & adoption

Through three comparative case studies, this ISS policy brief examines how climate both increases the risk of children losing parental care and impacts children already without parental care. Building on these insights and ISS’s longstanding experience in child protection, this brief proposes recommendations to prevent family separation in climate-related contexts and to meet the protection needs of children already deprived of parental care. These recommendations target policy-makers in climate and child protection sectors, as well as social workers and frontline practitioners working directly with these children locally.

The Guide is a tool that takes prospective adoptive parents through the whole procedure, providing them with concrete information on each and every stage. Specifically, all phases are presented through a bipartite structure: on one hand, the signals that PAPs might encounter on their way and that indicate risks for potential malpractice. On the other hand, the danger signals are punctually complemented with the questions that PAPs need to ask themselves, the central authorities or their accredited body to avoid risks. Through this practical approach, the booklet provides parents with concrete advice on what to expect throughout the process, and it concurrently offers them the possibility to acquire a correct perspective, the “protection angle” that is needed to ensure that intercountry adoption takes place solely in the child’s best interest.

This Guide is in the continuity of the Guide Intercountry Adoption and its risks – A guide for prospective adopters: detailing and providing concrete information on each and every stage of a search for origins process. Specifically, all phases are presented through a bipartite structure. On the one hand, the signals that adopted persons might encounter on their way. On the other hand, the danger signals are punctually complemented with the questions that adopted persons need to ask themselves, the central authorities or their accredited body to avoid risks.

Available also in Dutch and German.

This new kafalah publication calls for a greater respect of the rights of makfoul children.

Through the analysis of over twenty country contexts, the study aims at clarifying in particular: Where does kafalah originate from? What are its characteristics in different States, and how is it recognised or enforced in another State? More importantly, it addresses current challenges in order to ensure that kafalah is indeed a child protection measure respectful of children’s rights, both domestically and across borders.

It is a guide designed to familiarize the reader to the benefits of international family mediation addressing family conflicts, separation, and divorce across borders as well as cases of international child abduction by a parent. The Guide primarily targets families confronted with such problems, but also professionals from the psycho-social and legal fields who work with these families.
The guide’s content draws attention on how mediation is linked with the law and describes as well, with the help of many strong testimonials, the emotional impact that cross-border family conflicts can have on all family members. The Guide is a useful tool for child abduction prevention and is written in accordance with mediation practices and legislations of all countries, hence it is user-friendly and can easily be read by interested families.

Available also in Arabic, Bulgarian, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Russian.

During the fourth Special Commission, ISS/IRC launched its Manifesto for Ethical Intercountry Adoption which, based on the guiding principles of the 1993 Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption, intends to promote ethical practices in order to protect the children better as well as anyone involved, and to ensure that intercountry adoption is a protection measure that is used only in the child’s best interests. The Manifesto invites intercountry adoption stakeholders to reflect on the fundamental issues involved in adoption ethics. The considerations proposed are based on both applicable international standards as well as on multiple missions completed by members of the ISS/IRC team in countries of origin.

At the occasion of the 1993 Hague Convention’s 25th anniversary, the Permanent Bureau of the Hague Conference in association with ISS/IRC has published a brochure recalling the Convention’s “basics” and providing an overview on accomplishments and areas to improve. The Brochure also recalls essential tools and publications developed by the HCCH and the ISS/IRC in view of ensuring the Convention’s effective implementation.

It is thanks to collaborative efforts and the trust of the HCCH, Central Authorities and governmental organizations that the ISS/IRC is able to accomplish and continue its mission that is sharing information/promising practices in order to equip child protection professionals throughout the world.

Available in English and French.

Since the approval of the Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children, the continuing challenge has been their implementation. This handbook provides practical guidance on moving forward on the road to alternative care provision for children. It highlights implications for policymaking where national governments should provide leadership as well as provides links to what is already being effectively done on the ground. The handbook provides insight and encouragement to all professionals on what can feasibly be done in resource-constrained contexts.

Available also in Chinese, German, Italian, and Russian.

For more information: www.alternativecareguidelines.org

ISS network has worked together to capture the essence of ISS casework and advocacy influence for children on the move (COM) in this practical guide for all professionals working with COM. The richness of this manual is that it is based on nearly 100 years of daily casework of ISS members and specific projects targeting this group of children in all regions of the world – from the initial contact with the child to the working towards a quality sustainable solution. The manual will also be significant in helping advocacy efforts to ensure that the child’s rights are protected at each stage of the process – encouraging the implementation of international standards as well as the Joint General Comments, as well as work on Child Rights in the Global Compacts.

Based on research and extensive experience in alternative care and adoption, ISS has decided to officially publish some of its resources by way of a new series. Each series is a small publication that starts with comparing laws and policies, ending importantly with promising practices to facilitate implementation.

Based on research and extensive experience in alternative care and adoption, ISS has decided to officially publish some of its resources by way of a new series. Each series is a small publication that starts with comparing laws and policies, ending importantly with promising practices to facilitate implementation.

Based on research and extensive experience in alternative care and adoption, ISS has decided to officially publish some of its resources by way of a new series. Each series is a small publication that starts with comparing laws and policies, ending importantly with promising practices to facilitate implementation.

This study was commissioned by the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (MoSVY). It is a capacity development plan, prepared by the Permanent Bureau of the Hague Conference and ISS, which aims to accelerate the child welfare reform in Cambodia. It allows professionals to have a better view of the child situation in Cambodia and to implement effective measures for a better child protection.

This new publication on intercountry adoption breakdowns aims at giving support to adoptees, adoptive parents, professionals from Central Authorities and from other competent authorities, and Adoption Accredited Bodies, in order to prevent and manage the crises, and even breakdowns, faced by adoptive families. Two messages are clearly set out in this manual:

1. Benevolent, professional, quality support can transform a crisis into an opportunity to reinforce relationships which have suffered from a series of personal and interpersonal factors.

2. Adoption breakdown is a painful process but it never signifies that a person’s life is a failure.

This handbook is structured around four main Chapters, each focusing on the potential responses available to a finding of an illegal adoption from a specific standpoint: legal, psychosocial, social and political. Personal testimonies are woven into the Chapters, highlighting the harsh reality, challenges and achievements of those most affected. Likewise, multiple promising practices illustrating initiatives to address potential difficulties successfully, creatively and sustainably, are provided. The professional handbook does not, of course, purport to have an answer to every situation, but it does provide numerous avenues for dealing with feelings such as anger, grief, regret, disappointment and disillusionment when facing an illegal adoption – ideally providing some hope. Whilst the past cannot be changed, we live in the present with an opportunity to make the future brighter.

This study is based on data collected in relation to multiple cases of illicit activities related to intercountry adoption around the world over the last 50 years. This study aims to underline issues of concern surrounding an adoption procedure that are not necessarily and directly covered by the 1993 Hague Convention. Moreover, the publication thoroughly examines the theoretical and technical obstacles that hinder the protection of children against any form of trade in the context of intercountry adoption. Finally, the authors issue various recommendations in order to fight against these reprehensible practices.

Available only in English for sale.

As a follow-up to an initiative taken by the International Adoption Service (IAS) of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs in France, and in collaboration with the latter, the ISS /IRC undertook a study on the place of child health in the adoption process. As the topic is vast, the study has focused on the measures implemented by receiving countries, given that their responsibility is particularly at stake in relation to this issue. The perspective of the countries of origin is also included thanks to contributions received from several of them. The study is organised according to the typical outline of an adoption procedure. Each part provides a synthesis of the results as well as the main conclusions and offers suggestions designed to strengthen or improve the situation. At the end of the document, a factsheet summarises the suggestions formulated through the use of a good practice.

Whilst ICA as a child protection measure can bring many benefits to children, it is not without risks. One major risk relates to financial and other support to countries of origin, which is the focus of this Guide. Such support may occur prior to, during or after the finalisation of the adoption. The support may be for the benefit of the child to be adopted and/or children in the protection system. The support can take on many forms such as contributions, donations, development projects etc. This support should be distinguished from costs and fees linked to ICA.

This third Guide has been developed following the Guide for Prospective Adopters on ICA and its risks and Guide for Adoptees on ICA and search for origins.