OVERVIEW: All adoptions from abroad to Denmark go through DIA

Danish International Adoption (DIA), which as the only organization in Denmark mediates international adoptions, has decided on Tuesday to stop mediating adoptions from abroad to Denmark.

This means that in practice it is no longer possible to adopt from abroad.

The decision was made by DIA's board after the Ministry of Social Affairs, Housing and the Elderly notified the organization that the last five countries from which DIA mediates adoptions will be suspended for a period of time.

Below you can learn more about how adoptions from abroad work:

* What is DIA?

DIA is the only Danish mediation organization for international adoptions. If you want to adopt a child from abroad, this can only be done through DIA.

The organization has most recently facilitated adoptions from five countries: the Philippines, India, South Africa, Thailand and the Czech Republic.

DIA is an independent, self-owned institution authorized by the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Elderly. The framework for DIA's work is regulated through a series of accreditation conditions between DIA and the Danish Appeals Board.

DIA was created through a merger in January 2015 of the two former adoption agencies DanAdopt and AC Børnehjælp.

* Why is DIA controlled by the Danish Appeals Authority?

The Danish Appeals Board continuously and regularly supervises DIA. The supervision includes, among other things, DIA's operations in this country and in other countries.

The board is also a complaints authority - among other things in the social and employment areas.

The Danish Appeals Board must approve DIA's cooperation with foreign authorities and organizations in connection with the referral of children for international adoption.

In November, DIA received harsh criticism for the handling of adoptions from Madagascar by the Danish Appeals Board.

According to the Danish Appeals Board, in a number of cases the DIA has acted contrary to, among other things, the principles of the Hague Convention and the Adoption Act, which help to determine the framework for all adoptions.

On 2 January, the Danish Appeals Board suspended adoptions from South Africa, which was DIA's largest mediation country.

* How many adoptions from abroad are there in Denmark?

From the mid-1970s until 2010, 400-500 children were adopted to Denmark annually.

But the number for the past three years has been 20-40 adoptions annually.

There are currently 36 applicants (couples or singles) on the waiting list spread across six countries.

Sources: DIA and the Danish Appeals Board.

/ritzau/