A European agency reports today that MOWA has approved the adoptions of 63 children from the Gambela region (for various agencies, not just European) that were pending since December. They are now waiting for court dates.

BFAS

From adoption.state.gov:

February 8, 2011

On December 9, 2010, the Government of Ethiopia revoked the Better Futures Adoption Services’ registration to operate in Ethiopia because of the organization’s misuse of its license in activities concerning the welfare of children.

The U.S. Embassy strongly recommends that prospective adoptive parents who have entered into an agreement with Better Futures Adoption Services, or who are planning to adopt through Better Futures Adoption Services, seek the advice of a legal professional.

The Embassy's Adoptions Unit can be reached at consadoptionaddis@state.gov.

Please continue to monitor http://adoption.state.gov/ for updated information as it becomes available.

From a European PAP, concerning the meeting held on the 13th:

"They have decided to take off all the referrals with both birth parents alive. At least my agency had 7 families that have been informed. Now they are asking for death certificate but, at the moment, suppossed to go on with adoptions with at least one birth parent alive..."

This may only affect this particular agency and/or country; please let us know if your agency says their referrals are similarly affected.

From a PAP using a non-US agency:

"They have 'stopped' all the adoptions of children with at least one of biological parents alive...It's going to be a meeting in Addis this thursday 13th between Ministry and MOWA to clear it up...
On the other hand, adoptions from Gambella region are also stopped as they need an aproval from the Gambela president."

More from this European agency about the Gambella region:
"About Gambela orphanage: they need regional approval for each orphanage and this next friday, at least Selam Orphanage will have this approval in MOWA at Addis Abeba."

*Please note that I simply pass on what agencies around the world are telling their clients, when asked.


1/12/11 update:
A US agency with a care center in Addis recently received approval from the President of Gambela to complete adoptions. A representative inspected their care center last month. Also, this agency has not heard (or told their clients) that there will be any additional stipulations on adoptions, such as children with a living parent being unavailable for adoption.

Birth family court dates

It seems that several agencies have been told that the birth family hearing and adoptive family hearing will now be held (at different times) on the same day. Though at least 2 US agencies with recently assigned court dates were still given two separate dates as in the past, others have already started to receive one single date for both the birth family hearing and the court hearing that adoptive parents are required to attend.

Court Re-Opening

A couple agencies are saying court will resume on Monday, September 27, with others saying it's closed through the 27th and re-opening on Tuesday the 28th.

US Embassy staff shortage

At least 2 different US agencies have told their clients that embassy dates have recently been cut in half. This is supposedly due to a staff shortage at the US Embassy (unknown if its just for the summer or permanent). This change was announced suddenly, and some families with previously assigned embassy dates have recently been told their appointments have been pushed back.