Orphan children could be adopted sooner

The two years requirement for a child to obtain adoptable status could be reduced to just one year. The amendment was proposed by the Ministry of Labor, Social Protection and Family to the Adoption Law, Info-Prim Neo reports. Minister Valentina Buliga told the press that two years is the term for guardian authorities to attempt the reintegration of the child into his or her biological family. However, it seems that the term is too long if the efforts are efficient. “Civil society, experts and international practice show us that a year is enough to take all the measures for the child to be either adopted or reintegrated into the biological or extended family”, said the Minister. According to statistics, most families in Moldova who want to adopt children, prefer those under 6 years of age. If the two year term is kept, children reach the age of 8 and the adopting family may change its mind. The draft law reducing the term for the adoptable children status has already been submitted to the government and will be examined soon. Currently, there are 190 registered adoptable children, 164 for national adoption and 26 for international adoption. There are 122 national adopters and 24 international ones.