Unmarried individuals can now adopt foreign minors in Italy
- The Constitutional Court of Italy ruled that unmarried individuals can now adopt foreign minors.
- This decision overturns a 40-year ban established by a 1983 law restricting international adoptions to married couples.
- The ruling is seen as a historic change that could encourage legislative reforms to support broader adoption rights.
In a landmark ruling on March 21, 2025, Italy's Constitutional Court announced that unmarried individuals would be allowed to adopt foreign minors, effectively overturning a 40-year ban on the practice. This ruling declared unconstitutional an exclusion that had been established under a 1983 law, which permitted only married couples to engage in international adoptions. The court underscored the importance of a child's right to grow up in a stable family environment, indicating that the previous restrictions potentially jeopardized this vital right. The decision comes amidst declining numbers of international adoptions in Italy, with reports indicating a 5.6% drop in the first half of 2024, compared to the previous year. This decrease has been linked to a range of challenges faced by couples attempting to adopt, including the high costs and complexities involved in international processes. Moreover, the ruling addressed concerns voiced by adoption advocates, reflecting a growing urgency to ensure that more children find loving homes. While the ruling was opposed by Italy's right-wing government led by Premier Giorgia Meloni, which previously defended the 1983 legislation, it sparked enthusiasm among the center-left opposition. Notably, Democratic Party lawmaker Alessandro Zan hailed the ruling as a significant turning point for the rights of minors and the self-determination of individuals. He advocated for the Italian parliament to amend existing laws, eliminating ideological barriers to adoption and extending these rights to same-sex couples. The ruling takes immediate effect, representing a critical shift in Italy's adoption landscape. By fostering a more inclusive approach to adoption, the court's decision not only allows unmarried individuals to adopt but also sets a precedent for future legislative changes that could positively impact single parents and same-sex couples wanting to adopt domestically. This change is geared towards prioritizing the best interests of children awaiting adoption, ensuring that more children have the opportunity to be raised in stable families, regardless of the marital status of their adoptive parents.