US Asst Secy arrives Nepal to discuss inter-country adoption

US Asst Secy arrives Nepal to discuss inter-country adoption

REPUBLICA

KATHMANDU, Feb 16: United States Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Janice Jacobs arrived in Kathmandu on Wednesday for a two-day visit.

Jacob´s visit comes a day after the US Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Maria Otero, who arrived in Kathmandu on Sunday, wrapped her visit to Nepal.

According to a press statement issued by US Embassy in Kathmandu, the visit will primarily focus on the issue of inter-country adoption from Nepal.

Assistant Secretary Jacobs is scheduled to hold meetings with officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and the Ministry for Women, Children and Social Welfare (MoWCSW) to discuss the US government´s concerns on the inter-country adoption process.

The visit of a senior US official to Kathmandu comes in the wake of concerns being raised by international community that inter-country adoption from Nepal is subject to widespread abuses.

In an apparent bid to address the concerns, the MoWCSW last month amended the conditions and procedures relating to inter-country adoption.