Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov. 25 /Trend, K.Zarbaliyeva/
Azerbaijani Ombudsman Elmira Suleymanova made an initiative to create a single structure that would coordinate issues of national and international adoptions. The Ombudsman made a proposal to improve national legislation on this issue.
The right to adoption in Azerbaijan is provided by the courts on the basis of lists provided by the Ministry of Health regarding children under three years age, and on the basis of lists provided by the Ministry of Education regarding children from three to 18 years of age.
Adoption is based on application by a person wishing to adopt a child. Adoption of children by foreign citizens from Azerbaijan is based on the adopter agreement with the State Committee for Family, Women and Children.
After creating a center for adoption at the State Committee, foreigners have adopted 14 children, of whom eight are girls.
The Ombudsman also made several proposals to support the development of regional pilot centers for children and abused women, increase the length of stay of these people in the center from 30 days, as specified in the project, up to three months, and conduct the monitoring of the gender situation in the country.