Due Diligence Measures before Processing Adoption of Children

Ms Cassandra Lee asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) whether the Government is considering measures that will assist adoption agencies and families to conduct due diligence before processing the adoption of children; and (b) if so, what will some of these measures be.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: Singapore agencies are working closely with the relevant Indonesian authorities on the recent alleged child trafficking cases. When the facts are clearer, the Ministry of Social and Family Development will review whether existing adoption processes should be enhanced. In doing so, we will take a calibrated and proportionate approach as there are trade-offs. More stringent checks may lengthen processing times or render overseas adoption infeasible in some cases and may unfairly affect the majority of adoptions where there is no indication of illegality.