Adoption’s Unseen Struggles: A Malta Conference Unveils the Truth

Imagine a child, year after year, waiting for a family to call their own. This isn’t a hypothetical scenario, but a reality faced by many children in Malta, as revealed at a recent conference on adoption. The question echoing through the halls of the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta was, “Why leave a child hanging for years?”

Malta’s Adoption scene: A Closer Look

Malta, with its warm Mediterranean climate and rich history, is home to around 5,000 children. Yet, only a fraction of these children are adopted each year. According to the Malta Adoption Board, in 2020, just 27 adoptions were finalized. This stark figure was the starting point of the conference, titled “Adoption: Challenges and Opportunities”.

The conference, organized by the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector, brought together social workers, psychologists, lawyers, and adoptive parents. They gathered to discuss the hurdles in Malta’s adoption system and how to overcome them.

Barriers to Adoption: A complex Issue

The conference delved into the many challenges facing adoption in Malta. From the lengthy legal process to the lack of awareness about open adoption, each issue was dissected, and solutions were proposed.

One of the most pressing issues is the length of the adoption process. It can take up to three years for an adoption to be finalized, a timeframe that can be emotionally taxing for both the child and the prospective parents. “It’s like being in limbo,” said Maria, an adoptive mother who attended the conference. “You’ve formed a bond with the child, but you’re not yet their legal parent.”

Another barrier is the stigma surrounding adoption. Despite Malta’s progressive stance on many social issues, adoption still carries a certain stigma. Some prospective parents fear judgment from their community or worry about how their adopted child will be treated in school.

Finding Solutions: A Call to Action

The conference ended with a call to action. Participants agreed that more needs to be done to streamline the adoption process, increase awareness about adoption, and reduce the stigma surrounding it.

One initiative discussed was the creation of a national adoption week to raise awareness. Another was the establishment of a mentoring program for adoptive parents. “We need to support these families,” said Dr. Josephine Borg, a psychologist who spoke at the conference. “Adoption isn’t just about the legal process; it’s about the emotional journey of the child and the family.”

As the conference came to a close, the question that started it all echoed once more. Why leave a child hanging for years? The answer, it seems, lies in collective effort. It’s up to us, as a community, to ensure that every child in Malta has a loving, stable home.