The new law on adoption passed recently introduces sweeping changes that make legal processes easier for adopters.
The child adoption law has been amended to facilitate the growth of abandoned children or orphans in a family environment. As per the new law approved on July 5, 2015, “even parents who have a child can adopt,” said Ahmad Meydari, deputy minister of cooperatives, labor and social welfare.
Under the previous law, a specific fraction of the adopters’ assets was legally transferred in the name of adoptees; but as the clause was disapproved by many people, a smaller fraction was determined in the new law, Fararu website reported.
Meydari said the process of adoption which was long-winding earlier has been shortened.
In the past, applicants were first referred to the court and then the State Welfare Organization (SWO) centers for each step of the way. Commuting between the court and the welfare centers to complete the legal processes was exhausting; but with the amendments, all the paperwork will be done at the SWO offices. Adopters will be referred to court only in the final stage when the formalities are completed.
Age Bar Raised
He said that the new law aims to attract more people to come forward for adoption.
Meydari also said according to the new law, children up till the age of 16 can be adopted. Earlier, the ceiling for adoption was 12 years of age.
Iranians living abroad are also now eligible to get custody of abandoned children.
Counseling will be offered to adopters since “children in welfare homes and foster care may have some distinctive needs which can be addressed by proper parenting techniques,” the official said.
For example, bright colors and cheerful patterns can overwhelm children raised in orphanages; so their rooms should be decorated with subdued patterns and colors.
SWO counselors offer necessary training for raising children from welfare homes. Earlier, Anoushiravan Mohseni Bandpei, head of the SWO, had said annually 1,000-1,200 children who are orphans or whose family identity is unknown are entrusted to the country’s orphanages.
