Adoption to avoid mobilization: how social services protect the interests of the child
In times of war, society faces a number of new problems, many of which have profound social consequences. One of them was the increase in the number of applications for adoption and custody of children. This phenomenon, which at first glance may seem positive, carries hidden dangers. Some families try to use adoption as a way to avoid mobilization, which presents social services with a difficult dilemma. Protecting the interests of children becomes especially important in this context, because not only the future of specific children is at stake, but also trust in the adoption system.
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the number of people wishing to adopt children has increased significantly. However, as experts note, this “baby boom” is often connected not only with altruism, but also with the desire to avoid mobilization.
Natalia Ibrahimova, director of the Kyiv Regional Center of Social Services, told, that social services are increasingly dealing with cases where married couples try to circumvent the law and avoid military service through adoption. By law, a man who adopts or takes custody of a child gets a deferment from mobilization, and some try to take advantage of it. Social services closely monitor such cases, since the main task is to protect the interests of the child. Accordingly, if adoption is suspected to have a self-serving motive, applicants may be denied. The reasons for refusal can also be cases of domestic violence or unwillingness of one of the spouses to have children.
One example of such a situation was a couple where only the husband expressed his desire to adopt a child, while his wife was not ready for this step. Another case involved a family belonging to a religious denomination where corporal punishment of children is part of the educational process.
Nataliya Ibrahimova also spoke about the schemes that some families come up with to avoid mobilization. For example, a family offered to take custody of a child, although the guardian lived 150 km away from the child, without actually taking on any real caregiving responsibilities. Obviously, such custody would only be a formality, and the services did everything possible to prevent the transfer of the child to this family.
On the one hand, social services do not have the right to refuse to accept documents, but on the other hand, they are obliged to ensure that the child falls into safe hands. That is why each case is carefully considered and analyzed. Although denials of adoption or custody may seem final, the law allows families to reapply after a year. During this time, they can try to prove that they are capable of properly caring for the child and that their motives are sincere.
“We see that the motives of some applicants are far from a sincere desire to help the child. This causes serious concern, because children in such families can become just a means to achieve the goals of adults,” – believes Nataliya Ibragimova.
Vira Rogova, a psychologist who works with orphans, emphasizes:
“Children have a very subtle sense of how they feel about themselves. If a child understands that they are being used, it can cause serious psychological trauma. Such children can grow up with a sense of uselessness and mistrust of the world.”
Another specialist in the field of social work, Ivan Kovalchuk, notes that the problem also lies in the imperfection of legislation that allows families to bypass the system.
“Unfortunately, our legislation has loopholes that some applicants take advantage of. Social services are often stretched thin and do not always manage to identify all risks in time.” – he emphasizes.
Social workers also pay attention to the fact that sometimes the desire to adopt a child arises only in one of the spouses, while the other partner may not be ready for such a responsible step. For example, there were cases when a man insisted on adoption, but his wife was not sure of her readiness to become a mother. In such situations, in order to avoid possible conflicts in the family and stress for the child, social services also refused to grant the application.
Yulia Kovalchuk, a lawyer who specializes in family law, emphasizes the importance of strengthening control over the adoption process in wartime:
“We must understand that adoption is a complex and lengthy process that requires a careful approach. It is unacceptable that this process be used as a way to avoid mobilization. The state must provide a reliable mechanism for checking applicants to prevent abuse.”
Oksana Borodina, a lawyer specializing in adoption issues, believes that Ukrainian legislation has a number of safeguards that should prevent such abuses, but in wartime they do not always work.
“We must understand that every case of adoption or guardianship is not just a paper formality, but the fate of the child. Therefore, it is extremely important that social workers have enough powers and resources to conduct thorough checks and protect the interests of the child.” – she emphasizes.
Therefore, the increase in the number of applications for adoption in Ukraine against the background of the war demonstrates not only the desire of citizens to help children, but also the desire to avoid military service. Social services face difficult challenges trying to balance the protection of the child’s interests with the needs of adults. It is important that the state provides them with adequate support and resources, so that every child who needs a family gets a chance for a happy childhood, and does not become a hostage to the situation.
