Movie star Angelina Jolie arrives at the Tam Binh Orphanage to pick up her adopted son in early 2007

Adoption of children by domestic families should be given priority and that by foreigners treated as a last resort, according to a draft law released at a meeting in Hanoi Friday.

Nguyen Cong Khanh, deputy head of the Adoption Bureau under the Ministry of Justice, said the focus of the draft law was that priority be given to finding domestic families for needy children, online newspaper VietNamNet reported.

Khanh said the policy aims to ensure that the children are raised in an environment most conducive to their integration into mainstream society.

The draft law lengthens the time available for finding domestic families to adopt orphans and other needy children from 30 to 90 days before they are put up for adoption by foreign families.

Concerning recent wrongdoings found in some charity houses including taking money from adoptive parents, Khanh said the Justice Ministry will be the sole agency to put children up for adoption by foreigners.

Even for adoption by domestic families, local departments of justice and the ministry would be in charge of selecting children and introducing them to families, he added.

Source: VNA