Support The Moscow Times!

Gay Marriage Threatens Adoptions to Britain, France

A woman proposing marriage to her civil partner Tuesday in London. Luke MacGregor

Adoptive parents in France and Britain could find it more difficult to adopt Russian orphans now that parliaments in both countries have approved same-sex marriage, the Foreign Ministry's human rights ombudsman said Wednesday.

"The legalization of same-sex marriage in Britain and France reduces the opportunities for citizens of these countries to adopt Russian children," Konstantin Dolgov wrote on his Twitter blog.

Gay marriage is illegal in Russia, and officials have said same-sex couples should not be allowed to adopt children, a position that was reiterated by children's ombudsman Pavel Astakhov in an interview published by Rossiiskaya Gazeta on Monday.

"The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child says every child has the right to a mom and dad. Adults don't have the right to a child," he said.

In fact, the convention, which entered into force in 1990, does not contain the words "mother" or "father" — except a clause about pre- and post-natal care for mothers — and refers only to "parents" and "legal guardians" without specifying their gender.

The prospect of same-sex marriage in France has also caused some Russian lawmakers to question the future of a bilateral adoptions agreement between the two countries signed in November 2011.

State Duma Speaker Sergei Naryshkin said officials were discussing whether it would be necessary to conclude a "more comprehensive" agreement on "family issues," Interfax reported late Tuesday.

Officials are discussing amendments to the existing agreement, not a new agreement, Deputy Yelena Mizulina, head of the Duma's Family, Women and Children Committee, told Interfax on Wednesday.

France was the fourth-most-popular destination for outgoing Russian orphans in 2011, with French parents adopting 283 and British parents taking in 48 of the 3,400 Russian children adopted by foreigners that year, according to government statistics.? 

Contact the author at j.earle@imedia.ru

Related articles:

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more