Public consultations on the Adoption Bill will begin from Wednesday in the Northern Division.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights held closed door submissions and deliberations from UNICEF and the iTaukei Lands Commission in Suva today.

The Adoption Bill aims to update the current 1944 Act as well as strengthen the legal safeguards in place for adoption.

The Bill focuses among other things on the protection of children adopted internationally against abuse and human trafficking.

Committee Chair, Alvick Maharaj says they will head to the north to gather public views on the Bill.

“We’ll start in Wainikoro, so Wednesday’s basically in the morning, its Wainikoro and afternoon it’s Daku.  Then Thursdays, we’ll start in Labasa and then travel to Seqaseqa around midday sometime and then from 3pm we’ll be in Savusavu.  Friday, we’ll be in Dreketi in the morning and Bua at around 3pm and Saturday its Nabouwalu.”

Meanwhile Maharaj says the response last week from consultations in the West was overwhelming with around 25 submissions received.

In addition to working with Turaga-ni-Koro’s and Advisory Councils to let more people know where the Committee is and what they’re doing, MPs from respective divisions are being urged to let their communities know.

Maharaj says this has made a difference with the number of people showing up for the consultations.

This time around, the committee is also travelling with the Ministry of Women officials who facilitate information sessions for submitter’s to better understand the Adoption Bill.