MR YIP HON WENG, MP FOR YIO CHU KANG SMC, SPEECH FOR THE SECOND READING OF THE ADOPTION OF CHILDREN BILL, 9 MAY 2022

Mr Speaker Sir,?

?1.???????????????Children in their early and formative years, require nurturing care and support. A safe and happy childhood leads to lifelong and intergenerational benefits for health, productivity and mental wellness.?This stems from my personal experience, being a father of 5 kids.

2.???????????????The sad reality is that not all families are equipped, or able to care for their children. This is notwithstanding how much they want to. Some children struggle through challenging family circumstances. These situations may be present at the time of birth, or come into being during their childhood years. For these kids, adoption may be the best option for them to lead a normal and healthy childhood. This Bill is timely, given the sharp rise in child abuse cases, within the past two years.[1]?Personally, I believe the overriding principle for adoption is to provide them with psychological safety, as well as the caring and supportive environment that they need. I have a few clarifications on the bill.

Foreign adoptees

3.???????????????First, Mr Speaker sir, will all the changes to child adoption laws apply to foreign adoptees, where the adopting family is based in Singapore?

Adopters with criminal records

4.???????????????Second, Mr Speaker sir, what are some exceptional circumstances that may permit adoption by a person who has been convicted of serious crimes? I support the decision to prevent persons convicted of serious crimes from adopting. That said, I also believe in second chances. I trust the effectiveness of our prison rehabilitation programmes. Thus, I believe that the current position is the right balance between caution and giving second chances.

5.???????????????How does the Ministry decide on the time bar duration? Also, how does the Ministry determine whether the person has been adequately reformed, to be capable of providing care to a vulnerable child? Will this restriction based on the conviction of serious crimes, also apply to the immediate family members of the adopting couple? These would be people who also live with, or spend significant amounts of time in the company of the adopted child. If the applicant or said family members committed serious crimes abroad, will they also be subject to the same restrictions?

Compatibility Issues

6.???????????????Third, Mr Speaker sir, I support the amendment that seeks to provide more clarity on circumstances, where consent from the birth parents can be dispensed with, if it is in the child’s welfare. However, there may sometimes be compatibility issues between the adopting family and the adopted child. What intervention and support measures will the Ministry provide to the family and their adopted child, if these issues occur? Quite often, this may happen when the parents adopt a special-needs child or one with some baggage, but underestimate the effort and resources required to bring him or her up.

7.???????????????I know of a couple who adopted a child with special needs from the Philippines. Caring for the child is not easy, and I applaud the couple’s efforts in providing a safe and loving home for him. Other than briefing the potential parents with regards to the potential needs of the child, will the Ministry consider providing greater support to parents willing to care for such children? This is to hopefully prevent the need for the Court to make an order against the adopting parents for the child's welfare. The bill stipulates for prospective adoptive parents to attend a compulsory pre-adoption briefing, where they learn more about the adoption process and related issues, before they can apply to adopt. Is such a briefing adequate? Should there be a more extensive preparation course and follow up?

8.???????????????Are there mandatory health check-ups and mental health assessments for the adoptees, before an adoption procedure is finalised? Moreover, what if the adopted child is unable to get along with the rest of the siblings and other family members? Will the Ministry encourage adoptive parents and their families, where practical, to participate in respite fostering activities, if they seem unsure about adoption? In this way, the family can gauge whether they really have what it takes to welcome someone new into their families. This should not be a test. But it could be an avenue, for families to determine their readiness.?I would suggest that part of the adoption process, should include training or conversations with the adopting parents and their families, to aid them with such decisions. The discussions should cover the sibling relationship issues. In this way, these conversations can be a whole family affair.

Raising awareness of adoption

9.???????????????Fourth, Mr Speaker sir, does the Ministry intend to actively raise awareness and encourage adoption of children who have been under state care? According to a news report, there are fewer than 10 applications for children in state care, out of about 400 adoption applications filed in Singapore yearly.[2] How does this figure compare to the number of children who are under state care? What is the percentage in state care who have been identified for adoption? What are the criteria for these children to be deemed suitable for adoption?

10.??????????I support the amendments to ensure that adoption agencies publish their fees in a transparent manner, and charge only permitted payments. While advertising adoptees with identifying information is understandably prohibited[3], perhaps a generic awareness campaign on local child adoption, could help to shed more light on the values and realities of child adoption.

Conclusion

11.??????????In conclusion, Mr Speaker sir, a well-matched adoption can be a potentially life-changing and life-saving experience for the adopted child. With the new laws, I believe Singapore will be a safer place for vulnerable children. Singapore will also benefit from a new generation of children, who would have otherwise fallen by the wayside.

12.??????????Adoption is ultimately an act of kindness. In my maiden speech in this Parliament during the Debate of the President’s Address one and a half years ago, I spoke about how we can be richer as a nation, if we help each other. We are just emerging from the Covid crisis. Over the last 2 years, the Government has done much to help fellow Singaporeans to save jobs and provide emergency support to workers and companies. But there is other help that is needed. We need the community to come together, and to care for those who may be less fortunate, and may be in need of a loving home and loving relationships. In helping those in need such as children who struggle through challenging family circumstances, we leverage on our various strengths and abilities to create a stronger social compact.

13.??????????There is great value for us to do more for each other. Natural families already have many obstacles to overcome, to achieve stability and provide a safe and comfortable environment for children to thrive and grow. I imagine that adoptive families would face even more challenges. Let us help in every way we can, to make every match between adoptees and adopters a success.

14.??????????Lastly, I would like to express my admiration and appreciation for the Singaporeans who have adopted children. Dedicating resources, energy and giving of your lives to a child outside of your natural family, is undoubtedly one of the most selfless acts of humanity.

15.??????????I support the Bill.?

[1] https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/child-abuse-cases-in-spore-continue-to-rise-after-hitting-decade-high-in-2020?

[2] https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/child-adoption-suitability-law-1862016

[3] https://www.singaporelawwatch.sg/Headlines/changes-to-adoption-law-so-every-child-gets-a-good-home “It will be an offence to advertise a child for adoption with any information or picture which can identify the child, unless with approval from the Guardian-in-Adoption (GIA) appointed by the Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli.