TEHRAN — During the first nine months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-December 21, 2015), 230 children were adopted in Tehran, said Tehran Province’s Welfare Organization Director General Ahmad Delbari.

He added that 510 children who were either orphans or from parents that couldn’t take a good care of the children, abusing them or hurting them, were admitted by the welfare organization, the Mehr news agency quoted Delbari as saying.

The official noted that on average every month some 57 children of below six years are admitted to the four nurseries and orphanages across Tehran.

Of the recently admitted children, 19 are HIV positive and 10 are diagnosed with hepatitis, he regretted.

Referring to the main reasons of why children are admitted to nurseries and orphanages, he said that 34.5 percent of the parents abandon their children, 28 percent of the parents are drug addicted, and 10.5 percent have split up.

******* 1,600 couples waiting to adopt a child

Delbari explained that 1,600 couples are in waiting lists to adopt a child. In the past Iranian calendar year (March 2014-March 2015), 149 children were adopted which increased to 230 this year and will reach up to 330 by the end of the current year (March 20).

******* Easing adoption process

He further mentioned meetings held with judiciary and some other organizations discussing ways to ease the process of adoption in the country.

Depending on the children’s status as they are orphans or from families who can’t bring up their children on their own, the time frame varies, he said.

“But in general the adoption takes about 3 months,” he added.

******* Single women can apply for adoption

Delbari highlighted that based on a new law single women can apply for adoption. For the past nine months three requests have been made, of which one is granted, one is being reviewed and one is on the waiting list.

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President Hassan Rouhani paying a visit to an orphanage (file photo)

MQ