International Adoption Guide

March 30, 2012 The Office of the Government of Laos announced on February 20, 2012, that the authorization to allow foreigners to adopt Lao children is suspended until appropriate regulations and procedures are established on intercountry adoption. Updated information will be provided as it becomes available on adoption.state.gov.

Strictures on adoption in the Muslim world make it all too easy for al Qaeda and other terrorist groups to recruit child soldiers. But that may be changing, Asra Nomani writes.

The South Australian Government will give a formal apology to families affected by forced adoptions. From the 1950s until 1980, more than 17,000 children were adopted in SA, many through forced removal by agencies or churches.

Initiated by the President of Ukraine, the Commissioner for Children's Rights Mr. Yuri Pavlenko gave his speech on the situation of istututi for orphans, children deprived of parental care during the meeting that was held at the end of February 2012 at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of Ukraine.

The current ban on gay and unmarried couples should remain in place until the Stormont Assembly decides otherwise, the Attorney General has said.

Government sets out measures to speed up adoptions and give vulnerable children loving homes New legal duties on local authorities to reduce delays Children to be fostered by their prospective adoptive parents National Adoption Register must be used for children waiting longer than 3 months

The adoption of Russian children by foreign families should become a “rare exception,” prime minister and president-elect Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday.

"My experience of adoption has shown me how – whatever your start in life – being brought up by adults who love you, who are now your parents, is transformative. Adoption is – in every sense of the word – for good. And the readiness of adults to make such a firm and unselfish commitment for a child they cannot know is, to my mind, an inspirational example of humanity at its best."

From the 13 Feb payments may only be made on-line

PAC, formerly the Post-Adoption Centre, is extending its phone advice service to include a Wednesday evening slot.