Society

AFA urges protection of adopted children rights to be raised by a mother and father

AFA is urging “fence post” MP’s not to infringe the right of adopted children to be raised by a mother and a father.

The Australian Family Association (AFA) today calls on the NSW Government to confirm its commitment to protecting the state’s children, by acknowledging that it is a child’s fundamental human right to be raised by both a mother and a father.

The AFA applauds the efforts of the growing cohort of NSW MP’s who are properly representing the people of NSW by upholding the right of adopted children in NSW to be raised by a mother and a father.

Amid pressure from some community groups to remove this right from NSW legislation by allowing adoption of children by same-sex couples, the AFA urges all NSW MPs to guarantee that they will not permit children to be denied the fundamental human right to a mother and a father.

Mrs Mary-Louise Fowler, NSW President of the AFA said “While it is understandable that many same-sex couples may wish to adopt children, this desire does not give anyone the right to deny a child the opportunity of being raised by both a mother and a father.”

Mr Alex Fernandez, a member of the AFA (NSW) agreed saying “Adoption policy is concerned with meeting the needs of children. It is not in any way concerned with appeasing a couple’s desire to have a child. Such appeasement can only be an incidental factor in any adoption. The rights and interests of the child must always be the first, last and sole concern of adoption policy.”

Mr Tim Cannon, research office for the AFA and author of the AFA submission to the 2008 NSW Government inquiry into Adoption by Same Sex Couples, stated "Section 7(a) of the Adoption Act 2000 (NSW) emphasises that ‘the best interests of the child concerned, both in childhood and later life, must be the paramount consideration in adoption law and practice’.”

“Furthermore”, Mr Cannon explained, “section 8(c) states, ‘…no adult has a right to adopt the child’. Although unfortunate circumstances may deprive some children of the opportunity of being raised by both a mother and a father, no adult has the right to intentionally take this right away from a child.

“What’s more, research shows that having a mother and father is in a child’s best interests. Sex-differentiated parenting has been linked with the reduction of psychological, academic and social problems in children and young adults, as well as reducing the propensity for criminal behaviour.”

The AFA insists that it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that the law protects children, and asks all MP’s to declare their hand now on the issue of same-sex adoption.

“The people of NSW must be confident that their elected representatives will guarantee the protection of children’s fundamental human rights.” concluded Mrs Fowler.

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