The ‘Capacity Development Plan for family support, foster care and adoption’ was developed based on the findings of an independent assessment commissioned by the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation and facilitated by UNICEF. It was jointly carried out by the Permanent Bureau of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) and International Social Service (ISS). The Plan presents key findings and 23 recommendations, sub-divided into short-term, medium-term and long-term actions, for an effective and efficient implementation of foster care, adoption and family support in the country. It identifies two major remaining challenges that need to be addressed before resuming inter-country adoption. Firstly, inter-country adoption should be properly integrated into the domestic child protection system, with domestic family-based care solutions prioritized. Secondly, the existing legal framework must be adequately implemented by ensuring that all authorities taking part in the adoption procedure have the necessary powers, resources, knowledge, and experience concerning child protection and adoption.
The report will be useful to establish a national framework of fostering and adoption and improve the processes for inter-country adoption, and represents a significant step forward in the ongoing child care reform in the country.
Read the report in English here.
