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ADOPTION AND INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC
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THE CONTENTS OF THE PRESENTATION1. SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE CZECH
REPUBLIC 2. SOME INFORMATION ABOUT CZECH LEGAL
ORDER3. RELEVANT CURRENT STATISTICAL DATA 4. ADOPTION OF MINORS: CONCEPT
LAW IN BOOKS LAW IN ACTION
5. INTERNATIONAL (intercountry) ADOPTION OF MINORS LAW IN BOOKS LAW IN ACTION
6. CONCLUSION
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1. THE CZEH REPUBLIC
MAIN TURNING-POINTS
- the Czechoslovak Republic (since 1918)- the second word war (1939 -1945)- the communist take-over (in 1948)- the collapse of communism (in 1989)- the Czech Republic (since 1993)- the accession to the European Union (in 2004)
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2. SOME INFORMATION ABOUTCZECH LEGAL ORDER
Austrian Civil Code - ABGB (1918) both minors and aduls „contract“ non full
Act on Family Law (1949) only adoption of minors
because of political reasons
Act on the Family (1963) full adoption of minors
after 1989 human right
conventions Convention for Protection of Human
Rights and Fundamenta Freedoms (CE) Convention on the Rights of the Child
(UN) Convention on Protection pf Children
and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague)
European Convention on the Adoption of Children (CE)
amendment to the Act on the Family (1998)
better protection of mother, putative father, family of origin
the Children Act (1999) better protection of the child
Civil Code (2014) new conception according to the revised
European Convention on the Adoption of Children (CE)
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3. RELEVANT CURRENT STATISTICAL DATA The population of the Czech Republic was 10 517 408 at 31 March 2014.
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4. ADOPTION OF MINORS - LAW IN BOOKS CONCEPT
A) NON EXISTING OR NON FUNCTIONING NATURAL FAMILY
B) ADOPTABLE CHILDC) CONSENT BY PARENTS OR THEIR NON-
INTEREST D) CONSENT BY CHILDE) THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILDF) THE EXISTENCE OF PROSPECTIVE ADOPTERS G) MATCHING BY THE STATEH) OBLIGATORY PRE-ADOPTION CARECH) THE MOTION AND THE COURT DECISION -
STATUS
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ADOPTABLE CHILD
REAL ORPHAN DEAD PARENTS NO FAMILY AT ALL BABY- BOX (de facto, since 2005: cca 100 children)
SOCIAL ORPHAN CONSENT OF THE PARENTS NON-INTEREST OF THE PARENTS PARENTS WERE DEPRIVED OF PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
AND OF THE RIGHT TO GIVE A CONSENT
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THE INFORMED CONSENT OF THE PARENT
RULES
„Adoption requires the consent of the child's parents.“
mother: 6 weeks from delivery father: anytime after delivery
at the court personally
option of consent withrawal: 3 months expiry: after 6 years
DIRECT
parents know future adopters parenst „meets“ future
adopters at court
NON DIRECT
towards unknown adopters intermediation by the state:
matching parents will not „meet“ future
adopters at court
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NON INTEREST OF THE PARENTS
APARENT NON INTEREST
LEGAL PRESUMPTION
3 MONTHS SINCE INSTRUCTION, ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE (SOCIAL WORK)
SPECIAL COURT PROCEEDING „ON ADOPTABILITY“
„Proceedings, whether there will be the consent of the parents necessary“
EFFECTS:
the child is adoptable (not legally free)
the matching and adoption process may start
-
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THE RIGHTS OF PUTATIVE FATHER
Since 1998 „If paternity could not be determined pursuant to the legal
presumptions, the child, the mother and the man claiming to be the father may request that the court determine paternity.“
„The child cannot be adopted until the court's ruling on the paternity suit filed by a man who claims to be the father of the adopted child takes effect.“
inspiration by the case Keegan v. Ireland decided by the ECHR - the child was born out of marriage, but there was informal long lasting relationship - mother left the father and gave the child for adoption violation of Art. 8 Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
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THE INFORMED CONSENT OF THE CHILD
ADOPTEE
over 12 years: always consent
the right to revoke
under 12 years: view
if not possible (a baby): the right to be informed later – basic school
THE MINOR PARENT
over 16 years
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THE EXISTENCE OF RIGHT PROSPECTIVE ADOPTERS high moral quality full capacity to legal acts good health conditions adequate age difference (min. 16 years) well motivated and prepared
non close relatives (exception: surrogation)
if couple, only husband and wife (different sex), spouse of adopter, one of spouses, one person
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LAW IN ACTION: MATCHING PROCESS
CENTRAL AUTHORITY
LOCAL AUTHORITY FOR CHILD
PROTECTION
REGIONAUTHORITY FOR CHILD
PROTECTION
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OBLIGATORY PRE-ADOPTION CARE
DECISION: THE COURT
AIM: TO CREATE FAMILY TIES
AT LEAST 6 MONTHS
ON THE OWN COSTS OF FUTURE ADOPTERS AS MAINTENANCE DUTY OF THE PARENTS IS SUSPENDED
THE GUARDIAN IS APPOINTED AS EXCERCISE OF PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY IS SUSPENDED
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THE COURT PROCEEDINGS ON ADOPTION
ON THE MOTION OF FUTURE ADOPTERS
PARTIES: parents, who give consent
the child
adoptive parents, one of couple and his/her spouse
personal presens - hearing
constitutive decision
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EFFECTS OF ADOPTION OF MINORSFULL ADOPTION - status change - important for everybody
Civil Code ties to natural family cease to exist the rise of new ties towards family of adopter the change of child´s surname – possiblity to have 2
surnames vital register ►new documents
Act on registers, name and surname the adopters may choose or add new name to the child
Act on state citizenship the child becomes a citizen of the Czech Republic
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REVOCATION OF ADOPTION
IMPORTANT REASONS MOTION OF THE CHILD OR THE ADOPTIVE
PARENTS THE COURT DECISION
ONLY WITHIN 3 YEARS !!!!
EFFECTS: „COMEBACK“ TO NATURAL FAMILY CHANGE OF SURNAME
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5. INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION OF MINORS LAW IN BOOKS v. LAW IN ACTION
„THE HAGUE“ ACCORDING TO THE CONVENTION ON THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AND CO-OPERATION IN RESPECT OF INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTION (SINCE 2000)
ONLY CENTRAL AUTHORITY - STEPS APPLICATION - MATCHING INTERACTION: 7 – 21 DAYS REPORTS - COURT: PREADOPTION CARE FOLLOW-UP REPORTS: 6 MONTHS 3 REPORTS THE CONSENT TO ADOPTION from the Czech Republic: 2010 – 6/2014: 505 (every year cca 35)
to the Czech Republic: ???
„NON HAGUE“to the Czech Republic: together ???non official information 2010: 28
KONGO
from the Czech Republic: together ???
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THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN GIVEN FROM THE CZECH REPUBLIC TO PREADOPTION CARE ACCORDING TO THE COUNTRIES (2000 – 2014)
Denmark
France
Iceland
Italy
Canada
Cyprus
Germany
Austria
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
USA
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THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN GIVEN FROM THE CZECH REPUBLIC TO PREADOPTION CARE ACCORDING TO THE SEX (2000 – 2014)
boys
girls
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6. CONCLUSIONS NEW CIVIL CODE WAS DESIGNED ACCORDING
TO THECONVENTIONS
Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (CE)
Europe) Convention on the Right of the Child (UN) European Convention on Adoption of Children (CE, revised!) Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of
Intercountry Adoption (the Hague)
NEW CIVIL CODE (HOPEFULLY) MEETS EUROPEAN STANDARDS