Africa-Press – Mauritius. A second consultative workshop on the proposed Adoption Bill kickstarted this morning at the Caudan Arts Centre, in Port-Louis. Various representatives of public and private institutions as well as Non-Governmental Organisations are participating in the workshop.
The Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, Mrs Kalpana Devi Koonjoo-Shah was present on the occasion. In her address, Minister Koonjoo-Shah highlighted that the review of the whole adoption process, be it local adoption or intercountry adoption, is being made by ensuring that we act in the best interests of that child through the provisions of the proposed Bill.
She recalled that Mauritius is a State Party to key international treaties to protect the rights of children and with respect to child adoption, and that Mauritius acceded to the Hague Convention of 29 May 1993 on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption which ensures that adoption takes place in the best interest of the child and with respect to his/her fundamental rights, and ensures the establishment of appropriate safeguards to prevent the abduction, sale and trafficking in children.
Mrs. Koonjoo-Shah indicated that the new legislation on adoption will be to domesticate the provisions of the 1993 Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of Inter-country Adoption.
She underlined that Mauritius benefited from the support of the European Union who provided for consultancy services and also assisted in the preparation of the draft Adoption Bill.
The draft Adoption Bill introduces the objects and overarching principles of adoption law, with special emphasis on the principle of the best interest of the child and also sets out the standard operating practices at both local and international levels, informed the Minister.
The draft bill also caters for possibilities for the child to be adopted by a next of kin should be explored, Intra-family adoption and the setting up of a National Child Adoption Agency which will act as the Central Authority on matters pertaining to child adoption.
Moreover, the Minister underpinned her primary objective which is to assist families in caring for their children especially during time of crisis, thus preventing the separation of child and family.
