Gay couples may adopt
2005-12-30 17:58
London - Unmarried and gay couples in England and Wales finally gained adoption rights under a landmark law that came into force on Friday, offering new hope to thousands of abandoned children.
Previously, only married or single people could become adoptive parents.
But the new legislation - seen as one of the most significant changes in modern adoption history - enabled couples who were not married and gay and lesbian partners to apply.
Felicity Collier, chief executive of the British Association for Adoption and Fostering, said: "These changes will have a major impact on thousands of families."
Kids wait in temporary care
Collier said: "We know there were people eagerly awaiting on December 30 because they are an unmarried couple who would like to adopt jointly."
The law would encourage more people to consider adoption, which would ultimately help the children who need looking after.
Collier said: "This is very important at a time when too many children wait too long in temporary care waiting for an adoptive family or, in some cases, never have the chance of adoption at all."
According to Collier, some 3 800 children in care were adopted in England and Wales last year as well as about 1 500 others who were adopted by stepparents.
Adoption and Children Act
However, a further 1 000 to 2 000 children in care failed to find a family.
The Adoption and Children Act took three years to come into force after it was passed by the parliament in 2002.
Collier said the new law was much needed because society had transformed since 1976 after the previous adoption legislation was enacted.
She said in the past, most children given up for adoption were born to single mothers. Currently 40% of births occurred out of wedlock.
Special guardianship orders
As well as opening the way up for more adoptions, the new law also introduced so-called special guardianship orders.
Foster parents, relatives and other care givers could apply for such an order, which was expected to last until the child was 18.
It meant the infant was no longer the responsibility of the local authority.
Other changes included giving birth mothers and other birth relatives the legal right to ask for an intermediary service to trace an adoptive adult and find out if contact would be welcome.