Italy’s Constitutional Court has ruled that single individuals can adopt children from abroad, overturning a law that previously restricted international adoptions to married couples.
Landmark Ruling Expands Adoption Rights
In a decision hailed as historic by opposition parties, the Rome-based court declared that banning single people from adopting internationally was unconstitutional.
The case stemmed from a 2019 request by a single woman in Florence, which was initially denied under a 1983 law but later referred to the Constitutional Court for review.
The court found that the law unfairly restricted parental rights, stating that:
Becoming a parent is a fundamental right linked to personal self-determination.
Single individuals can provide a stable and nurturing environment for abandoned children.
Judges must evaluate each adoption case based on the individual’s emotional and financial suitability.
Political and Social Reactions
The ruling challenges the traditional family values agenda of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a self-described “Christian mother”. Meloni, who leads a far-right government, campaigned on promoting traditional family structures.
Alessandro Zan, the Democratic Party’s rights spokesperson, praised the decision, urging the government to extend adoption rights to same-sex couples.
Legal experts suggest this ruling could pave the way for single individuals to seek adoption rights within Italy as well.
