As the Government speaks about planned changes to adoption practices, a man who was adopted as a child is calling for this to take place “as soon as possible”.

I know that the law allows this but it does not really happen much

“I think at this point something needs to be done as soon as possible in the best interest of these children. Living in a family is better than being brought up in a (residential) home,” said 30-year-old James (not his real name) who added that being adopted was the best thing that ever happened to him.

Social Solidarity Minister Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca recently said the Government was looking into how to free more children up for adoption.

She pointed out that there are about 600 children in out-of-home care which means they are either fostered or in homes. A further 350 children are waiting to be assessed to be placed in care.

As things stand today, for a child who lives in a residential home to be adopted there first has to be a request to adopt that child. If adoption is considered to be in the child’s interest the consent of the biological parents is sought.

Should the parents refuse to give consent, the court can only dispense of parental rights along specific legal criteria. These include instances of abuse and neglect and mental incapacity to decide.

“I know that the law allows this but it does not really happen much,” said James, who had shared his full story in Times of Malta in March. He preferred not to reveal his identity due to the sensitive nature of his job.

James was a few days old when he was adopted, straight out of hospital. He vividly remembers being told he was adopted when he was about five years old. His father tried to explain to him that his birth mother could not keep him so she gave him to them to look after and love him.

Eventually, with the support of his adoptive parents, he embarked on an emotional journey to find his mother and was reunited with two brothers who were adopted in different families.

James believes that more needs to be done to make it easier for Maltese children, who live in institutions, to be adopted. He, however, cautioned that it is important to listen to what children want before deciding on their future.

When asked to elaborate on how the Government planned to address the adoption issue, a Social Solidarity Ministry spokeswoman said the ministry had started talks with Parliamentary Secretary for Justice Owen Bonnici so that all children in Malta would have their right to a family fulfilled.

“These discussions will also lead to the establishment of a set of principles that should guide the Government in safeguarding the interests of the child,” the spokeswoman said. Asked when change will be implemented, she said: “The changes will take place after having consulted all stakeholders.”

When contacted Dr Bonnici elaborated that the plan was to review local and foreign legislation to facilitate the process of giving a concrete and safe family life to children in institutions.

“We will look into the process from the issue of the care order throughout the whole procedure until the care order is confirmed, the rights of the children and the rights and obligations of their natural parents throughout the procedure and after the issuing of the care order, and subsequently the fostering process/adoption process,” he said.

The role of the court would also be re-examined to see how to better make sure that vulnerable children are placed in families that offer the best conditions for their upbringing, he added.

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