New oversight rules proposed for foreign adoption agencies in Armenia

The Armenian government plans to introduce new regulations that would establish stricter oversight of foreign adoption agencies operating in Armenia, including approval requirements, monitoring, reporting obligations, and possible suspension of authorization.

A bill establishing rules for the authorization, supervision, suspension, and termination of activities of accredited foreign organizations operating in the field of international adoption has been published online.

The regulation will apply to accredited organizations from countries that are members of the Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention), as well as their representatives and offices operating in Armenia.

If the draft is adopted, organizations seeking to operate in Armenia will need to obtain authorization from the central authority. They will be required to submit documents regarding their accreditation, experience, staff qualifications, planned activities, services provided, service fees, and other expenses.

Information about the organization, its representative, and the staff of its Armenian office will be sent to the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Police and the National Security Service to check for possible violations or circumstances that could prevent the organization from carrying out adoption-related activities.

Organizations will be required to submit annual reports at the end of each year detailing their activities, services provided, fees charged, and expenses incurred. After each adoption process is completed, a separate report will also be required on the work carried out and funds transferred.

For three years following an adoption, the organization, its office, or its representative must submit annual reports to the central authority on the adopted child’s post-adoption situation.

The reports will also be reviewed by the Police and the National Security Service to verify that the organization’s activities comply with Armenian legislation and the international convention, including whether expenses are justified.

In case of violations, an organization’s authorization may be suspended. If the violations that led to the suspension are not corrected within six months, the authorization may be terminated.