Speaking of truth in Ugandan adoptions
2 April 2012
Speaking of truth in Ugandan adoptions
- At April 2, 2012
- By Sara
- In Adoption, Uganda
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Over the last two years, I have learned a lot about ethics in adoption. Most of it the hard way. After bringing our daughter home from Uganda almost a year ago, I have mostly unplugged from the drama that surrounds Ugandan adoptions, especially on Facebook. There is a lot of ugliness that happens on the Ugandan Adoption Facebook groups. Gossip, accusations, lies. What concerns me the most, however, is a perception that if we tell the truth, Uganda may close to international adoption. There is a lot of anxiety as a result of this view. People who have experienced corrupt and unethical practices in adoption refuse to speak up out of fear. Those who do stand up for what is right are often demonized, accused of hating orphans or worse.
I have remained involved with a small group of adoptive parents as well as activists in Uganda who are passionate about reforming adoption and orphan care in Uganda. All of us believe that international adoption is wonderful for children who do not have families in Uganda – either biological or adoptive – who are willing and able to love and care for them.
One of the people who is passionately involved in reforming adoption and orphan care in Uganda is Freda. Those of you who have adopted from Uganda in the last few years know Freda from her position reviewing adoption cases at the US Embassy. She recently left her position at the Embassy an NGO advocating for reform. I am an ethusiastic supporter of Freda and the work of A Child’s Voice. In the first months of A Child’s Voice being active, Freda has been bold in sharing truth about Ugandan adoptions. Her hope is to inspire change and to be a part of a movement that will clean up Ugandan adoption before it spirals further out of control.
This morning, Freda emailed me and asked me to share an email she wrote in response to questions from a concerned adoptive parent. The questions this parent asked Freda are similar to questions several adoptive parents have asked me recently. I get the feeling there is a lot of anxiety about the future of adoptions in Uganda – especially for families who have already been matched with children and who are waiting for court. There is fear that “putting a negative spotlight on Ugandan adoptions…could ultimately cease all adoptions from Uganda to the United States.”
The adoptive parent brings up two basic issues: first, how pervasive is corruption in Ugandan adoption and second, are government officials fully aware of these problems?
In the adoptive parent’s view, there are “a few crooked attorneys…a few deceptive Ugandans accepting bribes…a few orphanages that do not have the best interest of vulnerable children in Uganda in mind.” The parent is concerned that if the US embassy becomes aware of these problems, they will cease adoptions from Uganda. In her opinion, most adoptions from Uganda are ethical and to close international adoption would leave orphans in Uganda more vulnerable.
In Freda’s opinion, unethical practices affect most adoptions. And both American and Ugandan officials are well aware of these problems. Here is Freda’s response to this email, which she asked me to publish on my blog and share on Facebook:
There are and were ethical adoptions from Uganda however those are the few. We are not concerned about the ethical ones, its the unethical ones that are a problem that is why we need to work hard to straighten them.The amount of child trafficking I have seen is unbelievable, someone needed to do something because unfortunately the unethical adoptions were the majority. Its unbelievable how many American parents have been conned and duped into adopting non orphans only to find out the truth later.We are not coming out to expose this so that the programme shuts down, in fact if we don’t do anything, it could get shut down. The unethical adoption facilitators are the majority and they are all out there.If we really want to see ethical adoptions in Uganda then we have to advocate for just that! How do you do so without exposing the problem?Its a tough truth but Ugandan adoptions are already on the road to being shut down.I understand that the United States could just shut down without asking any questions- yes but remember they do orphan investigations and discover all this fraud before anybody else does. This means that its not A Child’s Voice that will cause them to make a move.It’s very unbelievable how numbers of adopted children shot up by 300% in months, that really says something to me especially:- When I know that in over 90% of those cases, little or nothing was done to follow the continuum of alternative care prior to being referred for adoption.And also that in over 99% of the cases, the children had never had a probation and social work report (they had never been visited by a social worker) until they had to court date for their adoption and that the adoptive parent is the one that paid for the report!We also can not hide from the illegal institutionalization of innocent children, the corruption involved in the whole adoption process and the over charges. All this has to be dealt with and that is our passion.Even if there was one child out of 100 children that was taken away from a family that loves them and trafficked into the hands of an unsuspecting adoptive parent, or a child that is illegally institutionalized as a transition to being trafficked wouldn’t you want to speak out for that one child? That’s what I understand the bible tells me to do; To speak out for those who can’t speak for themselves.Even if I agreed with you that the majority of adoptions were ethical, the way I look at it, its the same way I understand the parable of the lost sheep (Mathew 18) I feel compelled to go and search for the one sheep leaving the 99 behind.
Friends who are passionate about Uganda, orphans and adoption, please listen to this woman! Over the last few years, she has seen everything. Working at the US Embassy, she saw the patterns of corruption and inconsistencies in paperwork. She also knows how little the Embassy can do. The Embassy has no ability to hold people accountable for trafficking children for adoption overseas. Their only options are to approve or deny individual visas – or to close adoptions entirely. Freda is standing up to reform adoptions now – before things get worse as they did in places like Guatemala, Vietnam or Nepal – before the corruption becomes so systemic that there is no choice other than closing the country to international adoption.
If we stand together to reform Ugandan adoption and orphan care and if we refuse to participate in unethical adoption practices, there is a brighter future for orphans in Uganda. A Child’s Voice is working to get kids out of harmful institutions, to support vulnerable families, to encourage domestic adoption, and to reform international adoption so that it remains a possibility for children who truly are in need. Please don’t fight these reforms. Stand with me and others who love children and families in Uganda to defend the vulnerable and fight for what is right.
10 comments
Naomi
I have every respect for Freda and she was the only person we met with in Uganda who told us the truth! Thank you Sara for sharing her words. No one wants to bring children home who should remain there. I am fully on board and supportive of A Child’s Voice and look forward to what God will do through them.
suzy
Couldn’t agree with you more! I’ve been in contact with Freda………….having adopted an older child, we found out after the fact the unethical practices that took place. I hate the fact that people would rather “cover” up these things. I’m ready to share my story. My experience will hopefully help others!
Nancy Witt
Thank you Freda, for your words and for your passion. And thank you, Sara, for your words and for your passion. I am proud to be your mom…and proud to be Ella’s jaja…this is important work and needs to be done. The issue of ethics in international adoption must be part of the very fabric of the process…
Aly Paslay
Proudly standing with Sara, Freda, and A Child’s Voice as we all embark on this process of reform. For me, I champion this cause for my son. No matter how American he becomes, he will always be Ugandan first. If his country is being exploited by corruption and child trafficking then I have no choice but to lobby for reform. Thank you for bringing this truth to light, A Child’s Voice and Child Advocacy Africa.
Speaking of Truth | A Child's Voice
[...] week, a very important topic was covered on this blog. Sara shares her heart on speaking the truth and why it matters so greatly that it be spoken. [...]
Kasha Jacqueline
Dear Freda thanks for standing up for the truth.Freda I have a concern.I am a Ugandan not rich and not very poor but am interesting in adopting a child and live with that child as my own in UG.I want to share the litttle I have with a vulnerable child in UG.How can I help.?I want a child who is really in need.
Please go on with this incredible work and am a HRD just like you if u need any assistance please contact me.I will be glad to help in whichever way.I believe in Peace,care and love for all.
Stay well en never give up.The world needs more people like you.
Stay blessed,Kasha
jenny
Kasha Jacqueline,
If you are interested in adopting, ethically, as a Ugandan then there is one place I would recommend: Malaika Babies Home in Mengo. The home takes care of abandoned infants under 2 years of age, locates their families and in most cases reunifies the babies with their biological families. For the children who’s families can’t be found or are not appropriate the children are placed with adoptive ugandan families. The do excellent work and have very high ethical standards. You can contact them at their website: http://www.childsifoundation.org
a.m.
Hi Sarah, I just recently came across your blog and it’s God’s timing I’m sure. My husband and I are starting our Uganda adoption process for a sibling group and I really had no idea about the corruption that is going on…I knew to be wary of international adoptions and really careful about making sure it’s being done ethically. I don’t know anyone who’s adopted from Uganda and this is all stirring up a lot in my heart! I want so badly to make sure we do this in the most God-honoring, just, and careful way. Do you have recommendations/resources for us? What questions can we ask our agency and how can we make sure they are doing it right? I would love any advice. Thank you so much.
Yonnie Henry
May God bless the children.I am intrested in adopting a girl child.plz send me your confidential email that i can communicate to u thru,i will be so greatfull to here from u as soon as u get my msg thx n God bless u once more
Yonnie Henry
send me your confidential email i need to adopt thanx God bless u