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Montenegro Adoption Alert
Source: Wikipedia.org.
Notice: Adoptions from Montenegro to Begin Under the Hague Adoption Convention (April 10, 2014)
The Department of State has determined that it should be able to process intercountry adoptions from Montenegro that are initiated on or after April 1, 2014.
On June 26, 2012 the Department of State determined that consular officers would not be able to certify adoptions from Montenegro as complying with Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-Operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Convention) and the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (IAA). Since then, the U.S. Embassy in Podgorica and the Office of Children's Issues Adoption Division have worked with the Government of Montenegro to cooperate on intercountry adoption concerns and to address questions and procedural challenges, including which entities are authorized to perform Convention roles and responsibilities. Montenegro has officially identified the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare as its Central Authority for the Hague Adoption Convention, and in July 2013 enacted a Law on Social and Child Protection.
Based on the available information, the Department of State has determined that Montenegro has now taken the necessary steps to meet its Convention obligation, which will allow consular officers under Section 301 of the IAA to verify on a case-by-case basis that an intercountry adoption meets the requirements of the Convention and the IAA.
Intercountry adoptions from Montenegro are very rare, and Montenegro places a priority on domestic adoption. Under the 2007 Family Law, foreign citizens can only adopt a Montenegrin child in exceptional cases and with the Ministry's approval. Generally, only children with special needs are available for intercountry adoption. The Ministry can be reached at +382 (0)20 482 447; 234 254.
The Department of State will provide updated information on adoption.state.gov as it becomes available. If you have any questions about this notice, please contact the Office of Children’s Issues at 1-888-407-4747 within the United States, or 202-501-4444 from outside the United States. Email inquiries may be directed to AdoptionUSCA@state.gov.
Notice: The Hague Adoption Convention Enters Into Force for Montenegro (July 3, 2012)
On July 1, 2012, the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-Operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption entered into force for Montenegro. However, Montenegro does not yet have a fully functional Convention process in place. Therefore, the United States has determined that it will not be able to process Convention intercountry adoptions until the Government of Montenegro implements an effective Convention intercountry adoption process.
We caution adoption service providers and prospective adoptive parents that, to ensure that adoptions from Montenegro will be compliant with the Convention, important steps must take place before intercountry adoptions between the United States and Montenegro resume. Adoption service providers should neither initiate nor claim to initiate adoption programs in Montenegro until the Department of State notifies them that it has resumed adoptions in Montenegro.
Source: [1]
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