Italy’s Constitutional Court ruled on Friday that single individuals are now allowed to adopt children from abroad, overturning a law that previously limited this right to married couples in the predominantly Catholic nation.
In a press release summarizing the decision, the Rome court stated, “The exclusion of single people from the international adoption of minors is unconstitutional.”Opposition parties in Italy celebrated the ruling as a “historic” moment, particularly given the country’s strong ties to the Vatican and the conservative stance of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who identifies as a “Christian mother.” Meloni, who won the 2022 general election on a platform focused on traditional family values and a tough stance on immigration, has faced criticism for her views.
The case at the heart of this ruling originated in 2019 when a single woman in Florence sought legal permission to adopt. Although a Tuscan court initially denied her request under the 1983 law, it forwarded her case to the Constitutional Court to assess potential infringements on her rights.
The court concluded that the existing law “disproportionately restricted” the rights of individuals looking to adopt out of a genuine desire to provide a home for a child in need.
It emphasized that the aspiration to become a parent is part of an individual’s freedom of self-determination and must be weighed alongside the best interests of the child.
The court noted that single individuals are potentially capable of creating a stable and nurturing environment for a child who is abandoned.
Similar to the process for married couples, judges will assess the emotional readiness of prospective adoptive parents and their ability to support and raise a child.
This may also take into account the support network surrounding the aspiring parent,” it added.Alessandro Zan, who advocates for rights within the centre-left Democratic Party (PD), described the ruling as “a historic turning point.” He urged Meloni’s government to recognize that “what matters is love, not marital status,” and called for the extension of adoption rights to same-sex couples, declaring, “Enough discrimination.
Enough prejudice.”Experts believe this ruling may pave the way for single individuals to also seek legal avenues for adopting children within Italy.
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