Adoptions increase

REQUESTS for international adoption recorded in Majorca has grown by 9 percent in the first 11 months of this year in contrast with the same period last year. The President of the Majorcan Institute of Social Services and Sports, Antoni Serra, said that they had granted 140 certificates of suitability to families on the island. These certificates show the national authorities of the chosen country that the family is capable of adopting a child. So far 60 of these certificates have been granted for Russia and 59 for China. There have also been six for Colombia, five for India and two for Kazastan and one each for the following countries: Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Nepal, Panama, Ukraine, Brazil, Bulgaria and Mexico. At the moment, adoptions from China are equalling those from Russia and could overtake them in the future. This demand for adoption of foreign children is put down to the administrative organisation in Europe where adoption usually takes between two and three years.