Justice Sec to visit adopted children stuck in Congo

Thirty Congolese children adopted by thirteen sets of Dutch parents, have been waiting for more than a year for their departure to the Netherlands. State Secretary Fred Teeven calls it a distressing situation. Teeven told the Second Chamber this week that he wants to travel to Congo before Christmas to "discuss the situation". According to Teeven, many diplomatic efforts have been made to get the kids to the Netherlands. But "the Netherlands and many other European countries have not succeeded yet". Congo has stringent requirements for adoption abroad. For example, children may only be adopted by heterosexual couples who have been married for at least five years. Last year September the country suspended all adoptions, fearing that children do not end up well. According to Teeven, since then the United States and France have managed to arrange a number of exit visas.