World Vision warns that the generous impulse to help Haitian children displaced by last week’s massive earthquake may lead to rushed adoptions that separate families or risk a lapse in child protection.

World Vision’s concern is not with adoptions that are already in process. Our call applies only to new adoptions of children presumed to be orphaned by last week’s deadly earthquake.

Families Must Be Located
“Hearing about the specific needs of children often sparks a desire to adopt those who seem to have lost their families,” said Dave Toycen, president and CEO of World Vision Canada.

“However, early in a crisis, it is better for children to be protected while remaining in their home countries until the locations of their family members can be confirmed and adoption possibilities explored within their own communities.”

“International adoption may be the best solution for a few children, but it is too early to be certain in the first weeks of a crisis,” said Toycen.

Working to Identify Lost Children
While World Vision has already begun to identify lost children and establish temporary safe refuge for them, we are concerned that this migration of separated children is likely to increase over coming days and weeks as insecurity worsens.

World Vision and other aid agencies issued a statement on January 20 calling for this temporary moratorium to take place until children can be properly identified, the family tracing process completed and legal protection measures taken. This will lessen the risk of children being exploited, trafficked and permanently separated from their families.

As early recovery activities proceed, efforts also should be made to develop a policy providing clear guidelines on how to respond to the needs of separated and unaccompanied children in the medium to longer term, drawing on recently adopted international guidelines for children at risk.

Please donate today to help families affected by the earthquake in Haiti.