How can a foreigner adopt Azerbaijani child?

"On March 30, 2004, Azerbaijan joined the Hague Convention on "Intergovernmental cooperation in the sphere of children's rights and adoption", head of the intergovernmental adoption department of the Azerbaijani State Committee for Family, Women and Children Problems Vasila Movsumova said.

According to Movsumova, issues concerning the intergovernmental adoption are regulated based on corresponding laws in the Constitution of Azerbaijani Republic, Family and Civil Procedural Code.  

"It's necessary to view the following issues for the adoption of child by a foreigner: First of all, disagreement of child's family for his or her adoption by a foreigner, second, denial of child's parents. Moreover, the adoption of an Azerbaijani child by a foreigner is decided by court on the basis of consent of the Committee for Family, Women and Children Problems," Movsumova said.

Movsumova noted that according to the Azerbaijani legislation on child adoption, there is no limitation regarding the health of adopted child.

The head of the department underlined that the procedure of the intergovernmental adoption is more complicated compared to the local adoption procedure. If all documents submitted by a foreigner for the adoption meet the requirements of the Azerbaijani legislation and the child is determined, in this case this procedure will end approximately in 5-6 months. In other cases this may last up to 10-12 months.
 
"Our legislation doesn't envisage any fee or payment for the intergovernmental adoption i.e. a foreigner adopting a child does not need to pay any money to the Azerbaijani side or to our committee," Movsumova said.

Movsumova said according to Article 350 of the Civil Procedural Code of Azerbaijani Republic, all foreign families adopting Azerbaijani orphans remain under control of corresponding authorities of the country they live in. At the same time, lives of adopted Azerbaijani children remain under the control of the Azerbaijani government. 
 
"Moreover, the foreigner adopting Azerbaijani child should submit information in the report form about the life and conditions of the child to the State Committee for Family, Women and Children problems once every six moths during three years. The report should be attached with photo and video materials featuring the dwelling, growing and educational conditions of the child. In this procedure our committee does not face any serious problems as we constantly cooperate with corresponding authorities of government they live in and Hague Convention," the department head informed.

"Currently, we have registered 9 foreign families willing t adopt Azerbaijani child. Basically, we receive applications mostly from citizens if the United States, France, England, Switzerland, Italy, Israel and Austria", Movsumova added.

In 2001, only one child was adopted by citizens if foreign governments.

"The girl was adopted by Russian citizen of Azerbaijani origin," the department head concluded.


/Day.Az/