The Ministry of Children and Family Development, Adoption Branch would like to bring the following information to the attention of adoptive parents who are considering adoption from Cambodia.

• Since February 27, 2002 adoptions of children from Cambodia have not been facilitated in British Columbia. At that time, exceptions were made for those applying to adopt relatives and those who had already completed homestudies and had applied to adopt in Cambodia prior to that date.
• Concerns had been expressed that some adoptions from Cambodia had not met the standards of the laws of Cambodia. These concerns were regarding the buying and selling of babies in Cambodia who were then placed for adoption with foreign families.
• In March 2003, the Canadian High Commission reported the following:
• Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) conducted a thorough review of the international adoption process in Cambodia.
• This included consults with local and international human rights organizations, United Nations agencies, local non-governmental organizations involved in adoptions, resident diplomats from countries with adoption programs in Cambodia and host government officials.
• The review concluded that the legal and procedural framework in Cambodia regarding international adoptions is open to abuse and does not offer the safeguards necessary to carry out international adoptions in a transparent manner that protects the interests of the children, the biological parents, or the prospective adoptive parents.
• The Cambodian Government has serious concerns regarding trafficking in women and children in Cambodia, including for the purpose of adoption.
• Canadians should also be aware that there is risk that international adoptions from Cambodia may not meet the requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).

September 2005 - The Ministry received an update from Cambodia. Although legislation has been drafted, it has not gone through any of the necessary channels. A two to three year wait is estimated before Cambodia has a system in place that meets international standards.

Letters of No Objection (LONO's) will not be issued by the Director of Adoption for Cambodia. Exceptions will only be given for those applying to adopt a relative child. No other exceptions will be considered at this time.

The temporary term and condition placed on British Columbia agency licenses disallowing them from participating in any adoption from Cambodia except for those noted above will continue. This situation will be reviewed regularly by the Director of Adoption and will continue until the situation in Cambodia is rectified.