Adoption Authority notice re: South Africa – 15 June, 2011

The Adoption Authority of Ireland advised prospective adopters in March last that both the Authority and the Irish Embassy in Pretoria were continuing in their efforts to establish relations with the South African Central Authority.

The Embassy of Ireland met on Tuesday, 17 May last with the Director of Adoptions and International Social Services at the SA Department of Social Development.

The South African Children’s Act came into force on 1 April 2010. This Act contains a chapter on Inter Country Adoptions. Under the Act, Child Protection Organisations in South Africa must be accredited prior to being approved to facilitate adoptions. Also under the Act, Working Agreements must be in place between South Africa and those countries wishing to participate in intercountry adoptions.

South Africa currently has Working Agreements with 11 countries. South Africa’s current strategy is, first and foremost to promote adoptions within South Africa. Approximately 2,500 adoptions per year are approved by the authorities. Of these approximately 200 are intercountry adoptions.

The SA Department of Social Development is planning in the 2011/12 financial year to review the current adoption arrangements, both in country and with countries abroad. Once this review has been completed, the Department may amend the current arrangements in line with the review results. One of the possible recommendations of the review might be to open negotiations on intercountry adoption with a number of additional countries. Ireland might possibly be one of these countries.

In the event that a Working Agreement is concluded with Ireland, both countries would each assign one of their own Adoption Agencies to facilitate intercountry adoptions. A number of agencies are accredited by the SA Department of Social Development to facilitate adoptions abroad.

No agency has, as yet, been assigned by the Department of Social Development to work with Ireland.

The Adoption Authority of Ireland acknowledges the interest shown by prospective adoptive parents in adopting from South Africa. However, at this stage the South African Authorities must complete their own internal review, prior to considering entering into Working Agreements with other countries.

There will be ongoing contact between the Embassy and the Authorities both here and in South Africa. Further updates on the matter will be posted on the website www.aai.gov.ie.

NOTICE – SOUTH AFRICA – 13th April 2011

The Adoption Authority of Ireland wishes to advise that both the Authority and the Irish Embassy in Pretoria are continuing in their efforts to establish from the South African Central Authority whether it will accept applications for intercountry adoptions from Ireland in 2011. We have, as yet, received no indication from the Central Authority of their intentions and will advise as soon as we receive any information.