【Get to know Taiwan】History and Changes of adoption in Taiwan

I recently had opportunities to know a few adopted adults whom were placed for international adoption from 1975 to 1984. When I listened to their life stories, I was reminded the history and changes of adoption in Taiwan for past 40 years.

Adoption work in Taiwan experienced a few major changes to reach the today’s professionalism. Before 1985, adoption relationship in Taiwan was established once the relinquishing party and the adopting party signed a written agreement and registered it at the household registry office. After 1985 up to now, this adoption agreement has to be petitioned to the court for approval. After it is granted, then the adoption can be registered at the household registry office.

In 1993, in order to protect children and youth’s rights more, the court “shall” order adoption investigation before approving petition of adoption. This proactive and thorough act is aimed to avoid children trafficking from happening.

In 2003, Child and Youth Welfare Act was modified again to emphasize not only the importance to respect the wishes of children and youth to be adopted but also to improve rigorous mechanism to investigate “the need for relinquishment”. If during the investigation, a social worker finds that the difficulties resulting in relinquishment can be and the relinquishing parents’ skills can be fostered through support, the court then has no reason to approve the petition of adoption.

Furthermore, on November 30, 2011, “The Protection of Children and Youths Welfare and Rights Act” was implemented. It puts more efforts to ensure the child and youth’s best interests first. Particularly Article 16 affects adoption in Taiwan the most. It regulates that except relative adoption and step-family adoption, all adoption has to go through adoption agency. It puts private non-blood related adoption to an end.

Although there is still room to improve adoption work in Taiwan, it is evidenced that lots of efforts have been put in to change the mentality of people who want to adopt or to relinquish in Taiwan. The goal is to help them to see a child as “an individual rather than a property”. Another goal is also to really delete the part related to “Termination of Adoption”. So at the end of the day, we can really see Liu Yung’s adoptive mother’s love and commitment in Taiwan all the time.

Reference:

1. The Protection of Children and Youths Welfare and Rights Act ：http://law.moj.gov.tw/Eng/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?PCode=D0050001

2. Research on Termination of Adoption in Taiwan: 100年12月內政部兒童局委託研究報告：兒童及少年被終止收養及試養失敗之原因及因應策略探討