Country Status  Ethiopia is currently OPEN to adoptions by US citizens.   For a list of Joint Council agencies working in Ethiopia, please consult our Country Programs page.

November 23, 2009

Following is an update on Joint Council’s advocacy efforts in Ethiopia including our October trip.  As always, our advocacy efforts, including our recent trip, serve to advance every child’s right to a permanent and safe family. 

Standards of Practice
During separate meetings, Joint Council presented the Standards of Practice for Non-Governmental Organizations with Respect to Permanency Services in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia – Second Edition to the:

• Minister of Foreign Affairs
• Minister of Women’s Affairs
• Ministry of Foreign Affair, Consular Section
• Ministry of Foreign Affair, Women’s Empowerment Sections,
• Ministry of Justice Charities and Societies Division
• Network of Adoption Service Providers
• French Consular Officer
• Australian Consular Office
• U.S. Consular Office

The Standards were well received by all.  The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, the U.S. Consular office and French Consular office were particularly interested in the Standards, including those adoption service providers choosing to be a signatory to the Standards.  We extend our congratulations to those adoption service providers choosing to elevate their services to families and children via the Joint Council Standards.

Joint Council and the French Consular Office discussed opportunities for collaboration on the Standards and training programs for local government officials and service providers.  The French initiated these programs including staff dedicated solely to permanency programs and a $120,000 USD budget.

Joint Council extends its appreciation to the Governments of Australia, Ethiopia, France, and United States for the time, courtesy, support, and collaboration demonstrated as we collectively seek to protect the right of every child to a safe and permanent family.

Review and Assessment
As part of our ongoing advocacy and at the request of the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Joint Council is formally providing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Women’s Affairs, and Ministry of Justice with information related to those adoption service providers licensed by the Government of Ethiopia.  This information includes the status of each adoption service provider as Hague accredited, denied or non-accredited.  Additionally, the status of each adoption service provider as a signatory or non-signatory to the Joint Council Standards.  A summary of the review is available on the here.  Identical information has also been provided to the U.S. Department of State.

Joint Council participated in meetings with numerous adoption service providers, most being Joint Council Member Organizations and a number of non-Member organizations.  Consular officers from the U.S. Department of State participated in some of these site visits including programs dedicated to aid and development.  Such site visits by government officials helps to elevate the understanding of the growing role adoption service providers play in services dedicated to permanency, aid, and development.

Given Joint Council’s policies and the sensitivities related to our ongoing assessment of intercountry adoption services in Ethiopia, including programs of the French, Australian and other governments, we are choosing to refrain from detailing the service providers with whom we met.  While the review is ongoing, and complex, it should be noted that to date, the Joint Council Grievance Procedure has not been initiated for any Member Organization.  Joint Council will continue its review and to adhere to our detailed and publicly available Grievance Procedure.

While some have questioned Joint Council as to why findings of the review have not been published, it remains Joint Council’s policy to publish information only when it is appropriate and incompliance with Joint Council internal policies and procedures and in alignment with our Mission. Our ongoing goal is not related to a specific date.  The goal is to remain true to our Mission and protect the rights of families and children.  As always, information that serves these goals and is compliant with our policies will be published and made available to Joint Council Member Organizations, adoptive families and the public. 

Joint Council extends its appreciation to those Joint Council Members who assisted in our advocacy trip, including site visits.  We are pleased that to date, all Joint Council Members have eagerly and transparently provided their assistance.

October 12, 2009

Joint Council’s Director of Programs & Services, Rebecca Harris, and President, Tom DiFilipo, conducted an advocacy trip to Ethiopia from October 2 through October 9, 2009.   

Meetings were held with officials of the U.S., French, Australian and Ethiopian governments, Joint Council Member Organizations, The Network and other stakeholders.  Details of Joint Council activities in Ethiopia will be published soon.

We thank everyone who collaborated with Joint Council in executing this very important advocacy trip.  Of particular note is the role of Joint Council’s Rebecca Harris in executing 31 meetings and representing our mission at a level commensurate with Joint Council’s reputation as a respected advocate.   

September 28, 2009

Review and Assessment of Intercountry Adoption Practices in Ethiopia

Joint Council's President, Tom DiFilipo, and Director of Programs and Services, Rebecca Harris, will travel to Ethiopia on October 2, 2009 for nine days.  Meetings are currently being arranged with Ethiopian, U.S., and other government officials, adoption service providers, and other NGOs working in child protection and/or children's services.  While the goal of this advocacy trip are many, just one is to continue Joint Council's broad-based review of intercountry adoption practices in Ethiopia.

Just as the Summary Statement of September 21 is not focused on one individual or entity, Joint Council's review includes all individuals and organizations practicing intercountry adoption with particular attention to those practices that abuse children and families.  Among other goals, Joint Council seeks to collaboratively identify all abuses, take action consummate with our mandate and policies, and, as appropriate, to demand  a thorough investigation by the appropriate authorities.

Joint Council also seeks to strengthen those practices and organizations, which legally and ethically preserve existing families and support domestic and intercountry adoption as appropriate options for children living outside of permanent parental care.  The presentation of the Joint Council Standards of Practice Second Edition to government officials, professionals in the field of children's services, and the public, is a significant part of Joint Council's larger efforts.

We again ask everyone - governments, NGOs, adoption service providers, adoptive families, and all who hold children and families as inviolate - to join in an effort to end victimization, to support the preservation and creation of safe, permanent families, and to protect the cornerstone of civilization: the family.

September 21, 2009 - The Australian ABC News program Foreign Correspondent, recently broadcast a program entitled Fly Away Children.  This program focused on intercountry adoption in Ethiopia and raised serious concerns.  On the web page for the story, are responses from Christian World Adoption and Foreign Correspondent.

Joint Council has issued a Summary Position Statement which can be found by, clicking here.

As noted in the statement, a review and assessment of possible violations of the Joint Council Standards of Practice has been initiated. The review is being conducted according to Joint Council’s Policies and Procedures.

Joint Council’s President Tom DiFilipo and Director of Programs & Services Rebecca Harris, will travel to Ethiopia on October 2, 2009. As one element of this advocacy trip, Joint Council will present the Second Edition of the Standards of Practice specific to Ethiopia.

September 18, 2009 - Joint Council is well aware of the grave issues relating to intercountry adoption in Ethiopia.  Earlier this week, Joint Council initiated an immediate assessment of any possible violations by Adoption Service Providers.  Pending review Joint Council will issue a public statement.  Any action taken by Joint Council, based on its findings, will be reported to the appropriate authorities.

May 29, 2009 - The U.S. State Department, Office of Children's Issues has issued an Adoption Alert regarding Ethiopia.  To view the alert, click here.  Joint Council will continue to closely monitor developments in Ethiopia and update our website accordingly.

May 14, 2009 - The U.S. State Department, Office of Children's Issues has issued an Adoption Alert regarding Ethiopia.  To view the alert, click here.  Joint Council will continue to closely monitor developments in Ethiopia and update our website accordingly.

May 14, 2009 - It is Joint Council's understanding that Ethiopian authorities are investigating alleged actions of five children's homes in or around Addis Ababa.  It is our understanding that this is affecting abandonment cases processed through the courts in Addis.  It is unknown at this time if it is affecting just the abandonment cases of those children's homes under investigation or all abandonment cases in Addis.  Joint Council is working to confirm the extent of the alleged illegal activities and investigations, the children's homes involved, and effects on the processing of abandonment cases in Addis.  As information is confirmed and more information becomes available Joint Council will continue to update our website.

January 15, 2009 - Ethiopia recently passed a bill imposing tight restrictions on foreign aid agencies, prohibiting them from a number of areas including human rights, equality, conflict resolution and the rights of children. The impact of the bill on organizations providing services to children is yet to be determined. The draft version of the bill is available on-line. Joint Council will continue to closely monitor developments in Ethiopia.

November 13, 2008 - The Ethiopian Ministry of Women’s Affairs now requires additional documentation for adoption cases in which a living birth parent or parents has/have abandoned their child to an orphanage.  The regional social affairs bureau must now authenticate the letter issued by the local Kebele court that acknowledges the abandonment. 

This requirement was implemented in response to reported instances in which fraudulent letters were obtained from Kebeles.  The new requirement will result in a more secure process because it requires an in-depth investigation by the Bureau of Social Affairs.  This requirement is permanent and it is expected that it will eventually be incorporated into the Family Code. 

This new requirement may contribute to delays in the processing of cases in which living birth parents have abandoned a child. PAPs and agencies should be aware of possible delays, and cooperate with this new requirement so that all intercountry adoptions are completed in a legal and ethical manner.  

October 23, 2008 - Joint Council has released a policy statement on Cultural Sensitivities in Ethiopia in order to formalize our cultural sensitivity policies and to educate PAPs and others on this important issue. We ask that all families currently in-process in Ethiopia, or those who are considering an Ethiopian adoption, read this important statement.

August 11, 2008 - During the week of August 4, 2008, Joint Council traveled to Ethiopia to further our ongoing dialogue with the Ethiopian government.  During our advocacy trip, we communicated with the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Network, U.S. Consular General and various Joint Council Member Organization Country Directors. 

Joint Council presented the findings of our study on Family and Child Service in Ethiopia to the Ministries of Justice, Foreign Affairs and Women’s Affairs.  The focus of the report was the extraordinary number of families and children served through the efforts of our Member Organizations.  In 2007, over 250,000 families and children received services with less than 1,100 being served directly through intercountry adoption.   This number is on tract to hit almost 700,000 in 2008.  

Our ongoing communications with the Ethiopian government and other key stakeholders can only strengthen the legitimacy of those organizations providing children’s services including intercountry adoption.

July 16, 2008 -  During the week of July 7, 2008, * Joint Council led a delegation of child welfare organizations to Addis Ababa and presented its Standards of Practice for Adoption Service Providers with Respect to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (SOP).  Audiences included the Ethiopian Ministries of Justice, Foreign Affairs, Women’s Affairs, and the First Instance Court.  Joint Council has been invited to partner with various ministries and departments in an ongoing effort to ensure that children’s services continue in Ethiopia.  This partnership will also strengthen the ability of the government and NGO community to provide superior child protections. 

During nine meetings with the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and First Instance Court, common concerns related to “legalized child trafficking”, cultural insensitivity, regulatory capacity and poor practice were expressed.  Joint Council has agreed to continue to dialogue with various governmental offices and service providers in an ongoing effort to address each specific issue and general areas of concern.

NGO partnering and investment in the social infrastructure of Ethiopia is of high value to society.  Most officials also express a very strong focus on the broad range of child welfare services and community development--not on intercountry adoption as a standalone service--provided by child welfare NGOs.  The current plan now calls for an immediate review of the quality and range of programs and services of all licensed service providers.

An additional response to issues of concern will be the strengthening of the role of child care centers and orphanages.  Recognizing the critically important function that orphanages and child care centers execute, especially the intake procedures for orphaned or relinquished children, the government will focus much of its effort on regulating these institutions. 

* As part of Joint Council’s International Relations Initiative, Joint Council President Tom DiFilipo, Scott Brown and Frank Garrott, respectively Vice-President and President of Joint Council Member Organization The Gladney Center, Eric Munyemana, of Friends of Rwanda and in collaboration with Saddleback Church, also conducted an advocacy trip to Rwanda on June 30 through July 4, 2008.

The delegation met with numerous government officials including Dr. Jeanne d'Arc Mujawamariya, Minister of Family and Gender Promotion along with a variety of church and civil leaders.  Through the week long visit, the delegation learned of the many accomplishments of the Rwanda government on behalf of its people and the over 1 million orphans in Rwanda.  The delegation also presented considerable information on international children’s services and significant role ethical intercountry adoption has as a key element in finding loving families for children in need.  

In meetings with various Rwandan ministries it can be reported that the Rwandan government is in favor of ethical intercountry adoption as an appropriate option for its many orphans.  The government is currently seeking to secure adequate laws and regulations which will provide needed protections for children, regulate a very small number of child welfare organizations engaged in intercountry adoption (perhaps only two or three organizations) and increase its capacity to facilitate children’s services including ethical intercountry adoption.

Joint Council honored the sensitivities of the Rwandan government and chose a small delegation given the government’s ongoing concerns related to intercountry adoption and their desire to currently limit the number of service providers seeking to partner with Rwanda in serving children.  We urge all child welfare organizations seeking new adoption programs and potential adoptive parents seeking to adopt, to similarly honor the Rwandan government’s efforts.  We strongly request that you provide Rwanda the needed time to properly expand its child welfare system before seeking to establish a program in Rwanda.  Please know that as Joint Council continues its partnership with the Rwandan government, we will advise you accordingly.

September 5, 2007 - The U.S. Department of States has estimated that the total number of orphan visas for FY-2007 will reach 1,300 - nearly double the FY-2006 level. The U.S. embassy in Addis Adaba is continuing to review cases to ensure that adoptive children have been properly relinquished for adoption. Mr. Ato Haddush Halefom, adoption team leader of the Ministry of Woman's Affairs in Ethiopia, has indicated that Ethiopia is considering signing the Hague Adoption Convention.

August 1, 2007 -  The CDC recently posted a notice regarding a Hepatitis A risk associated with Ethiopian adoptees, in response to several reported cases in children and adults linked to adoptees from Ethiopia.  Click here to read additional information on the disease and recommendations, as posted on the CDC website.