 |
|
Democratic
Republic of Congo's Foreign Affairs Minister Alexis Thambwe Mwamba attends a
press conference on December 23, 2008 in Paris ©Bertrand Guay (AFP)
|
The Democratic Republic
of Congo said Monday that 72 children adopted by foreign couples could now
leave the country after being held up for two years. Justice Minister Alexis
Thambwe Mwamba announced the lifting on the halt on international adoptions
after meeting the ambassadors of the main countries from where the adoptive
parents originate.
"We've
authorized the release of 69 children from the national territory," the
minister told reporters.
"We've
also permitted the release of three children suffering serious illnesses."
AFP report continues:
The
children in question are being adopted by families from Belgium, Canada,
France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United States.
In
late 2013, DR Congo suspended permits for the release of children being adopted
by foreigners.
Authorities
at the time said they had taken the action after receiving information that
Congolese children adopted in some foreign countries had apparently been
mistreated or adopted by homosexual couples, which is forbidden under Congolese
law.
The
freeze on foreign adoptions was renewed indefinitely in September 2014.
The justice minister also
said a commission that deals with adoptions would suspend its work until a new
law on international adoptions is in place.
No comments:
Post a Comment