Paulina Quintao – The Minister of Justice (MJ), Manuel Carceres da Costa said a specific law on adoption for Timor-Leste has not been established, but that parts of the civil code contain articles that can be used by the courts to decide on an adoption case.

He said an adoption law is important and has been added into the government's plan, to look at this issue, because children who are adopted by families need to the protected.

"We do not have an adoption law, but our civil code contains some articles that apply to adoption cases," he said in Dili.

He said many laws need to be reviewed by the government and this issue has been added to the plans. However, due diligence needs to be followed so that the laws are well formulated.

Meanwhile, National Member of Parliament, MP Antonio Verdial said the government and the parliament need to work in coordination to establish this law, because either the government or the parliament can prepare the draft law.

He said this law is very important to regulate and to create the standards for adoption, which guarantees the future of the children after adoption by families.

"The role of the government is clear, and I will tell the government or parliament to consider this issue, because this law is very important and it is very necessary," he said.

He added that recently the Young Women's Movement meet with the parliament, to ask the parliament to establish an adoption law.

He also added the government needs to conduct a research that looks at the real situation with adoptions taking place across the country.

Source: http://www.thediliweekly.com/en/news/17307-mj-timor-leste-does-not-have-law-on-adoption