Two DOS Adoption Notices for Lesotho Published Today

DOS has published two Adoption Notices concerning Lesotho today. One concerns adoption agencies wishing to assist with adoption from Lesotho and the other concerns information for families looking to adopt. Lesotho has become a Hague Partner Country and the Hague Convention will enter into force on December 1, 2012 for adoptions from Lesotho. Recent adoption statistics from Lesotho show a small number of adoptions each year: FY 2011- 10; FY 2010 - 11; FY 2009 - 2; FY 2008 - 1; FY 2007 - 0; FY 2006 - 4. We caution adoption service providers and prospective adoptive parents against overwhelming the country's new Hague program with an abundance of applications.


Lesotho

October 31, 2012 

Notice: Ministry of Social Developing Accepting Applications from Hague Accredited Adoption Service Providers that Wish to Facilitate Adoptions in Lesotho

On June 18, 2012, the Kingdom of Lesotho deposited its instrument of accession to the Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption Convention (Hague Adoption Convention) with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.  On August 24 the Kingdom of Lesotho designated the Ministry of Social Development as the Central Authority for the Convention.  The Hague Adoption Convention will enter into force for Lesotho on December 1.

The Ministry of Social Development, Lesotho’s Central Authority under the Hague Adoption Convention, is accepting applications from Hague accredited adoption service providers who wish to facilitate the adoption of eligible Mosotho children by qualified U.S. citizen prospective adoptive parents.  The Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho wishes to select an adoption service provider who meets the following criteria:

• Hague accredited;
• Experienced in helping the sending country establish and run a successful domestic adoption program;
• Experience working in Africa;
• Experience working in a country with a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS; and
• Experience working in a country of orphaned and double-orphaned children.

Interested adoption service providers may submit their application, or direct inquiries, directly to:

Mrs. Limakatso Chisepo
Principal Secretary
Ministry of Social Development
Parliament Road
Maseru 100, Lesotho
Telephone:  226 58038783
Email:  selloaneqhobela@yahoo.com
Please continue to monitor adoption.state.gov for updated information.

http://adoption.state.gov/country_information/country_specific_alerts_notices.php?alert_notice_type=notices&alert_notice_file=lesotho_2

Lesotho

October 31, 2012 

Notice: Lesotho Deposits Its Instruments of Accession to the Hague Adoption Convention

On June 18, 2012, the Kingdom of Lesotho deposited its instrument of accession to the Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption Convention (Hague Adoption Convention) with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.  On August 24, the Kingdom of Lesotho designated the Ministry of Social Development as the Central Authority (the Ministry) for the Convention.  The Hague Adoption Convention will enter into force for Lesotho on December 1, 2012.

Adoption Cases in Progress
The Ministry has advised the U.S. Central Authority that existing laws, rules and procedures will apply to any adoption where a Mosotho child was officially matched with prospective adoptive parents prior to the entry into force of the Convention on December 1, 2012.  The Ministry defines an official match as any child who matched with prospective adoptive parents during a matching meeting chaired by a Ministry official and involving representatives of Lesotho childcare facilities and adoption service providers.

The Ministry will process cases initiated on or after December 1, 2012, and those that do not meet the criteria outlined above as Convention cases.

Questions regarding whether an adoption may proceed under the old laws and regulations may be addressed directly to:

Limakatso Chisepo
Principal Secretary
Ministry of Social Development
Parliament Road
Maseru 100, Lesotho
Telephone:  226 5803 8783
Email:  chisepol@health.gov.ls

Please continue to monitor adoption.state.gov for updated information.
http://adoption.state.gov/country_information/country_specific_alerts_notices.php?alert_notice_type=notices&alert_notice_file=lesotho_3

---

Ethics, Transparency, Support
~ What All Adoptions Deserve.
http://www.pear-now.org/