The Adoption Bill currently before parliament is expected to address a number of issues.

Before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights, the proposed legislation will supersede the current law which is 75 years old.

Committee Chair Alvick Maharaj says the consultations carried out in the West last week highlighted the need for a more dated legislation and that also takes into consideration the international conventions that Fiji has signed up for.

“We agreed that we need a new domestic law which will actually supercede the Act that we had which I think was designed back in 1944 sometime. And there were a lot of loopholes, procedural matters and then the Magistrate used to take too much of time to actually deliver the ruling with regards to adoption and parents coming over and staying in Fiji for three to six months. So all those things, this new Bill is addressing which is mostly welcomed by the people.”

Meanwhile the committee travels today to the Northern Division to begin consultations from Wednesday at Wainikoro at the Nadogo Central College Hall.

They will then travel to Daku Primary School for a session from 1pm.

On Thursday, the committee will be Labasa followed by Seaqaqa and Savusavu.

Friday, Dreketi Primary School will be the location from 9am, followed by Leukutu in the afternoon.

Saturday the team will be in Nabowalu to wrap up their North consultations.