Cambodia is currently CLOSED to intercountry adoptions.
CCAI GENERAL OVERVIEW OF CAMBODIAN ADOPTION
The intercountry adoption of Cambodian children began in 1987. At that time, and for many years thereafter, there was no law in Cambodia that governed these adoptions, or provided safeguards and protection for orphaned children. The lack of rules and regulations led to allegations of fraud, illegal and unethical practices, and child trafficking. Therefore, in December of 2001, the United States suspended the processing of adoptions from Cambodia until such a time as these concerns were addressed. Other nations and Cambodia itself placed a moratorium on adoptions as well.
Cambodia became a party to the Hague Convention in 2007, and on December 3, 2009, new legislation was passed to address corruption-related issues and to ensure compliance with the terms of the Hague Convention. The new law placed the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation over a newly created Inter-Country Adoption Administration (ICAA) which is to be comprised of social workers, sociologists and psychologists, as well as lawyers who will oversee the implementation of the new adoption law, oversee the new comprehensive child welfare system and intercountry adoption processes, and ensure that the best interests of the children are protected.
Despite the passage of the new law, there were still concerns about proper implementation and enforcement. Therefore, in 2009, the Department of State reconfirmed the suspensions of adoptions in Cambodia.
The Cambodian government had plans to finalize a system of foreign adoptions under the December 2009 law which would enable them to begin receiving adoption proposals at the end of March 2011. However, as of June 2011 the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has announced that it will delay petitions to adopt until April 1, 2012. According to the U.S State Department, the delay is to provide additional time for Cambodia to implement all necessary regulations as per the Hague Convention requirements.
