http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/04/15/russia.adoptions/index.html?hpt=T2
I am posting this story not only because it kind of follows the blog theme for this week, but also because it is something that is close to my heart. My mother works in international adoptions, with Russia being the main location, so this affects her and my family, and more importantly all the orphans we have, and haven't, met all over Russia.
Last week, a woman who had adopted a boy from Russia sent her adopted son back to Russia alone, with only a note explaining that she no longer wished to keep the boy because of his supposed psychotic state. She manipulated a Russian driver into picking up the boy from the airport and taking him to the ministry of education, where she left the decision of what to do with the little boy up to them. She claimed that the adoption case-workers had lied to her about the mental state of this boy, and for that reason she was justified in sending him back.
This has caused much argument and discussion about international adoptions, especially of Russian children by US families. This is not the first incident where a Russian child has been mistreated by their US adoptive family, and the discussion ultimately resulted in the suspension of Russian adoptions from the US.
This relates to the blog theme because in this case a child, who virtually can not make his own decisions in various areas, has influenced international discourse and action. While there is a sector of government that deals with adoptions, The Ministry of Education, it is interesting that a couple instances of mistreatment could result in such action by governmental actors, and overpower all the positive stories that have come out of international adoption. While this instance is horrific, I personally have experienced the happiness and feeling of belonging that has occurred on both the adoptive family and orphan side, and it angers me that this possibility might be taken off the table in the future. However, as this article states, there isn't much to worry about, and international adoption from Russia should resume as usual, but hopefully with more evaluation of the children, and more importantly, the parents.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Here is an article to supplement my post:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125906714
For more information and stories about the [Russian] adoption process:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/adoptionark?ref=ts
This story exemplifies critical theory. Looking at international politics from "the bottom up" through the lens of a a single orphaned child is a meaningful way to look at international politics. Last night I was at a seminar discussing the "stateless children" who have 1 North Korean parent and 1 Chinese parent. Often orphaned because of their status, these children are not granted citizenship by either nation and are therefore unable to be adopted by anyone. They remain on the streets (usually of China) for the rest of their lives. It would be so easy for nations to change this rule and save thousands of children, but because of legislations that have a strangle hold on the rights of citizens they refuse to be changed. Oftentimes looking at stories from the critical theory perspective can help gain a better, more in depth and certainly more personal understanding of international politics.
ReplyDeleteI actually think that it is "small" instances such as this that lead to often positive changes (in this case, more strict and thorough assessments of the adoptive parents). Most likely adoptions will resume, but hopefully Russian adoption agencies can learn from this situation and avoid similar situations in the future.
ReplyDelete