Until now, Latvia received very little information about children adopted abroad. Members have also agreed to temporarily ban child adoption abroad until the laws are fully settled. This does not affect children whose adoption processes have already started.
The process and the way in which the adoption of Latvian children to foreign countries takes place, the Saeima began to discuss at the beginning of this year. The views on whether to ban the adoption of Latvian children abroad are very different, but almost all Members agree that there are things to be improved.
Until now, the issue of foreign adoption polarized society and political forces. One would argue that life abroad is better, and there is no good future for these children here.
Others indicate that the transparency of foreign adoption is lacking and question whether leaving Latvia is truly always in the best interests of the child.
In future, it is planned to evaluate each case in a special Foreign Adoption Advisory Board, in which all parties would participate, from the Ministry to the Orphan's Courts, the Ombudsman, non-governmental organisations.
Welfare Minister Ramona Petraviča (KPV LV), who herself does not support the adoption ban, promises to be more interested in the fate of children abroad. Information on the child's life was only received for two years after the child had gone to the new family. Now it would continue to be requested until the child comes of age.
“The first two years twice a year. And make video calls once a year to make sure how the child is,” the minister said about the planned arrangements.
At the moment, the Saeima has agreed to ban the adoption of children until the necessary changes to the laws take effect.
