“Adoption Catwalk” highlights desperate state of adoption in Brazil

On Tuesday, the adoption authorities in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso held the second edition of an event they call “Adoption on the Catwalk,” in association with the state bar association. Though the name is curious, to say the least, “Adoption on the Catwalk” is exactly what it sounds like. Hosted at a shopping mall in the city of Cuiabá, the event involved 18 children available for adoption, aged between 4 and 17, being paraded in a fashion show to a group of around 200 onlookers, largely made up of potential adoptive parents.

The children were kitted out with apparel from clothing stores, and the girls were given professional make-overs. After last year’s event, two teenagers were adopted by couples who attended the fashion show.

“Adoption on the Catwalk” was widely criticized on social media. Being compared to slave markets or cattle auctions, the idea of children being judged for adoption based on their looks drew revolt from prominent figures such as Manuela D’Avila, the running mate of last year’s defeated presidential candidate, Fernando Haddad.

“I think this is one of the saddest pieces of...