The Ban on Inter-Country Adoption and Its Applicability to Foreigners of Ethiopian Origin
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Date
2020-09
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The RFC Amendment Proclamation No.1070/2018, which resulted in the Ban of inter-country adoption is
silent regarding the applicability of the ban to FEO. On the other hand, FEO are accorded special rights
and privileges under other laws. The study, therefore, tried to identify the scope of application of the ban
of inter-country adoption on foreigners, and examine whether FEO have special rights concerning inter country adoption under the Ethiopian adoption laws. Further, the study tried to assess the objective of the
ban andif the total restriction helps to achieve those objectives byanalyzing the advantages and
disadvantages of the ban if it applies to FEO.
The study, therefore, concluded that the ban should not apply to FEO because they are relieved from
some restrictions placed on other foreigners.They are also entitled to some rights and privileges
including accommodating social and administrative services Therefore; adoption is among the social
services the FEO can enjoy in their country of origin.Additionally, the objective of the policy in
discouraging inter-country adoption can not be achieved by restricting these FEO. Because adoption by
FEO does not expose children to experiencean identity crisis and other problems that will affect them
psychologically and socially.Moreover, the status of domestic alternative care services in Ethiopiais not
sufficient to support all the OVC in Ethiopia. Therefore, this is an additional reason for the government to
provide FEO exceptional right to intercountry adoption.
Therefore, the study recommends the RFC Amendment Proclamation to be amended in a way that
recognizesFEO special privileges and exempt them from the ban. And enact uniform adoption law that
can be applied at regional and Federal levels.