Brazilian children adopted by foreigners down 63% in five years

The number of foreign couples who adopted Brazilian children plunged 63.6% in the last five years, according to the National Council of Justice.

Figures from the National Registry for Adoption (CNA), led by the Disciplinary Board of the National Council of Justice, show that 316 international adoptions were made in 2010, compared to a mere 115 last year. There are currently 135 foreign applicants eligible for adoption, who prefer children older than six years old, usually in a group of siblings.

Brazil is among the countries who signed the Hague Convention, which protects children and adolescents by ensuring that international adoption is made for the greater benefit of the child, and preventing the kidnapping and the traffic of minors.

The National Council of Justice views the adoption of Brazilian children by foreigners as an extreme measure, which takes place when there are no Brazilian families available.

From 2010 to 2015, 1,409 international adoptions were reported. Of the 115 adoptions registered in 2015, 90 were made by Italians, and the remaining by French people, Spaniards, and Americans.

In the view of Antônio Carlos Parente, Coordinator-General of the Brazilian adoption program, one of the reasons behind the reduction is the economic crisis facing Europe today. Even though the adoption process is free of costs—Parente argues—couples must be able to afford travel tickets and housing for their stay during the one-month trial period with the child.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira