Progress?

It has been an interesting few weeks… to say the least. The first three ‘test’ referrals have been made in an effort to test how the international adoption process will actually work. I am so happy that two of my new PAP friends were in this initial group and received pictures of their young daughters. Given how shaky this process continues to be, they are both remaining very private about it. I believe they are right to keep it under wraps until they receive final confirmation from the Ministry. It gave the rest of us hope that things might continue to move forward, even though the current state of affairs is not necessarily conducive to rapid progress.

Yesterday, the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare posted an announcement which basically outlines Nepal’s dossier submission and matching guidelines. Most importantly, it reminds all of us that they are busy people and will not possibly be able to answer specific questions on specific files under most circumstances. Hey, I figure with only five hours of electricity a day, a food crisis, the Prime Minister resigning and a bit of a political upheaval, we should probably let them do their jobs and stay out of their way. I have pasted the notice below; in the event you are interested in reading it.

http://www.mowcsw.gov.np/opensection.php?secid=463.

Date 17 May 2009
Notice
The Ministry would like to draw attention of all concerned Embassies, Diplomatic Mission Adoption agencies, and Representatives relating to Inter Country Adoption on the followings:

1. Information regarding the referral of Children will be only provided through those Embassy, Diplomatic Mission or Adoption Agency which have forwarded adoption dossiers to this Ministry.
2. Information regarding those adoption dossiers - which are under process - will not be provided as per the decision of Government of Nepal.
3. Telephone enquiry on the status of matching will not be entertained until and unless final decision on the child to be adopted will be made.
4. Upon the submission of adoption dossier, the Ministry will verify the documents as per the "Terms and Conditions". Respective Embassy, Diplomatic Mission, adoption agency and local Representative will be notified for any incomplete / faltering documents.
5. This Ministry assures that timely information will be provided to respective Embassy, Diplomatic Mission, Adoption agency, and local representative once the final authorization will be made on the child to be granted for inter country adoption.