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LESOTHO
GOVERNMENT LIFTS SUSPENSION |
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MASERU – 02 February, 2009: The Government of the Kingdom of
Lesotho has lifted the 2008 suspension on inter-country
adoptions allowing for adoption processes to resume between
four countries: Canada, The Netherlands, Sweden and the
United States of America.
The Government of Lesotho has designated one adoption agency
per country which will be responsible for coordinating all
adoptions, assisting in monitoring the progress of adopted
children and providing follow-up reports to Lesotho’s
Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Lesotho. The
designated adoption agencies have been mandated through the
signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the
Government of Lesotho.
The Director in the Department of Social Welfare, Mrs.
Limakatso Chisepo said the MOU follows recommendations made
by a commission of inquiry whose task was to investigate all
forms of abuse among Basotho children living in foreign
countries since July 2007. She said the commission has among
others recommended that the suspension of adoptions be
lifted as no forms of abuse were identified by the appointed
commission.
“As soon as the MOU is signed, adoptions will start with
immediate effect as adoption applications are coming in
large numbers from foreign countries.”
Currently, Lesotho’s inter-country adoptions are governed
under the Child Welfare and Protection Act No. 60 of 1980
and the Adoption Proclamation of 1952. Under these laws,
prospective adoptive parents are required to reside in
Lesotho for two years before they could adopt children, and
thereafter the inter-country adoptions can be processed and
approved. A revised Child Welfare and Protection Bill is
being debated in Parliament to enhance inter-country
adoptions.
END
LESOTHO NEWS AGENCY (2009) |
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