Intercountry Adoption - Tsunami Disaster

Intercountry Adoption - Tsunami Disaster

[Program Description |Provincial and Territorial Government Links |Federal Government Links]

The federal government is very concerned about the number of orphans left in the wake of the tsunami disaster in South Asia and is aware of the interest of many families in Canada to adopt them.

Before intercountry adoptions can take place, the affected countries must determine which children are orphans and have no possibility of being cared for in their country of residence.  Relatives often come forward to care for orphaned children within the extended family.   It is accepted international policy and practice to try first to find a home for orphaned children in their own country before uprooting them and placing them in a foreign country and culture.  UNICEF is starting to coordinate with non-governmental organizations and government authorities to develop systems to identify children and reunite them with parents and other relatives. 

The federal government will work with provincial and territorial governments if and when the affected countries declare that the children orphaned by the Tsunami disaster are legally available for intercountry adoption. Canada will then work closely with the countries involved to arrange the adoptions as quickly as possible.

Under immigration legislation, both citizens and permanent residents of Canada are able to sponsor their orphaned siblings, nieces, nephews and grandchildren who are under the age of 18.  This provision does not involve adoption, but is based solely on the child’s status as an orphan with a close family member in Canada.

If people would like to help children affected by the disaster, they can donate to agencies working to provide the basic necessities of life and to reunite children with their families.  

January 19, 2005
 
This page will be updated as more information becomes available.

Related links and documents:

Status of intercountry adoptions - Country position on Tsunami orphans

• India 
• Indonesia 
• Sri Lanka
• Thailand

Government of Canada

• Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Frequently Asked Questions relating to the Tsunami Disaster- Questions on Adoption
  http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/tsunami/faq-adoption.html 

• Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Fact Sheet - Sponsoring or Adopting a Child affected by the Tsunami Disaster
  http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/tsunami/factsheet-adoption.html 

Provincial and Territorial Governments

• The British Columbia Ministry of Children and Family Development -Tsunami Disaster in Asia
  http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/adoption/alerts_fact_sheets/asiatsunami.htm 

• Le Secrétariat à l'adoption internationale - Press Release relating to the Tsunami Disaster, January 6, 2005 (available in French only) http://communiques.gouv.qc.ca/gouvqc/communiques/GPQF/Janvier2005/06/c0531.html 

Other

• Hague Conference on Private International Law - Press Release relating to the Tsunami Disaster, January 7, 2005
  http://hcch.e-vision.nl/upload/tsunami_e.pdf 
  

• Adoption Council of Canada - ACC Position on Adopting Tsunami Orphans - January 7, 2005
  http://www.adoption.ca/news/050107tsunami.htm 
  
  
• Unaccompanied and Separated Children in the Tsunami-Affected Countries - Guiding principles which represent the views of the following agencies: the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Rescue Committee, Save the Children UK, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and World Vision International.