Ecuador Assembly Debates Bill to Speed Up Adoptions

Ecuador's National Assembly is moving forward with a bill to significantly speed up adoption processes, aiming to complete them in less than a year. The proposed reforms also introduce measures to enhance child protection, including barring sex offenders from adopting and preventing children from being returned to abusive environments.

Key provisions of the bill include reducing adoption procedures to a maximum of one year, with penalties for unjustified delays. The initiative also aims to streamline resources, cut bureaucracy, and ensure safer family reintegration for minors. A notable addition is the provision of scholarships for young people who turn 18 without being adopted, offering them a pathway after leaving foster care.

Diana Jácome, president of the Constitutional Affairs Commission, emphasized the law's focus on reinforcing the rights and safety of children. "No child will return to their abuser, and no one will be able to subject them to a biological sex change," she stated, highlighting new protective clauses. The legislation also clarifies constitutional requirements for adoption, permitting it only for heterosexual couples or single heterosexual individuals.

The comprehensive bill, comprising 22 articles, amends four legal frameworks. It aims to create a more efficient and secure adoption system in Ecuador, prioritizing the well-being and future of children in the state's care.

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No child will return to their abuser and no one will be able to subject them to a biological sex change.