Malta in talks with at least 12 governments over inter-country adoption agreements

Malta in talks with at least 12 governments over inter-country adoption agreements

Cambodia to reopen inter-country adoptions after a four-year hiatus following human trafficking concerns

Miriam Dalli 3 May 2016

The Maltese government is in talks with at least 12 governments over inter-country adoption agreements, Family Minister Michael Farrugia informed parliament this evening.

Following up on questions raised by backbencher Anthony Agius Decelis to Foreign Affairs Minister George Vella, Farrugia listed a number of countries which the government is in talks with over adoptions.

Cambodia, the minister announced, was set to reopen its inter-country adoptions following a four-year hiatus. The country has pulled a halt to adoptions after it emerged that a number of Cambodian children had been lost in human trafficking. Cambodia has now requested a meeting with the Maltese government to pave the way for the reopening of adoptions.

Farrugia denied suggestions PN MP Beppe Fenech Adami that the number of adoptions has gone down substantially: “The numbers don’t differ that much.”

Malta is seeking to open adoptions from India and Philippines whilst talks with Chile and Venezuela are at an advanced stage.

Talks with Kosovo, Slovakia, Poland and Czech Republic are underway whilst the agreement with Albania is being reviewed.

Following an agreement with Vietnam, the country is sending experts over to Malta for a followup.

The foreign affairs minister also explained that adoptions from Russia were never halted. However, he admitted that there were times where Russia required further assurances after Russian children allegedly went missing in the US.

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

Miriam Dalli graduated in communications studies from the University of ...

More from Miriam Dalli Miriam on Twitter Miriam on Google+

NATIONAL

Heritage Malta generated €9.9 million in 2015 COURT & POLICE

Restaurant workers injured in kitchen fire COURT & POLICE

Updated | Man found dead in apartment identified a... NATIONAL

Malta in talks with at least 12 governments over i... NATIONAL

Opposition, unions insist magistrate should presid... OTHER SPORTS

House approves amendments authorising non-resident... MUSIC

[WATCH] Ira Losco’s Eurovision outfit to feature... ENVIRONMENT

[WATCH] Refuse San Gwann quarry development for ol... MUSIC

Isle of MTV: Steve Aoki to perform closing set COURT & POLICE

British couple accuse financial services company o... EUROPE

MEPs call for better alert mechanisms to aid missi... NATIONAL

PL whip warns organ law could pave way for gamete ... NATIONAL

20 masts in ODZ area to be pulled down COURT & POLICE

Judge begins summing up in Xemxija drug smuggling ... NATIONAL

IKEA warning after third child killed by toppling ...