Australia suspends adoptions from Ethiopia

ABC

| December 28, 2009

The Australian Government has suspended all child adoptions from Ethiopia over fears that it could be breaking human rights laws against child trafficking.

Ethiopian children make up 13 per cent of the average 300 international adoptions a year by Australian families.

Adoptions are on hold until next year while the Attorney-General’s office conducts a review of the adoption processes out of Africa.

A statement from the office says under obligations to the Hague Convention, it cannot allow children into Australia from the African country as it is not satisfied there are sufficient checks to protect against parents selling their children.