The freshening up of legislation over adoptions in Bermuda has won approval from the Senate. The first update of the laws governing adoption since 1963 is an attempt to bring the Island into line with international standards on the issue.

Changes include the tightening up of privacy protection for adopting parents, so that Bermudians are less likely to travel overseas, where it is easier to adopt in secrecy.

Meanwhile guidelines have been introduced to help adopted children contact their biological parents, and to increase the role of fathers in the adoption process. United Bermuda Party Senator Gina Spence-Farmer — who grew up in the adoption system herself — welcomed the changes.

She said: “We in the Opposition are very pleased to support the act. Many Bermudians who have come from adoptive families have suffered from not having any contact with their biological families. This forms resentment for some and anger for others.

“This bill helps address some of those issues. It will enable those persons adopted an opportunity to find out information about their pre-adoptive past, which the previous act did not provide.

“We do appreciate that the Adoption of Children act does provide the opportunity for family members and those closest and most suitable to provide the child with a safe home and healthy environment to live should have priority to adopt them.

“Many children have become orphans as a result of losing both parents to HIV and illness like cancer.

“Godparents, aunts, uncles, friends and grandparents have become overnight foster parents to many of Bermuda’s children.

“They should be commended for their sacrifice and unselfish commitment to assuring that children who find themselves in this predicament are given a secure and loving environment to grow up in thanks to their support.

“We believe that the safety and welfare of children must always come first.”

Independent Senator Walwyn Hughes said: “I’m glad to see there is provision for people to be able to find out who their parents were. The best interest of the child should be the paramount consideration.”

Other changes in the legislation include the appointment of an adoption co-ordinator and the introduction of a compulsory home study before an adoption is completed.

Sen. Davida Morris, Junior Minister for health and social rehabilitation, made the second reading of the act in the Senate yesterday.

Sen. Morris said privacy would be improved to make Bermuda’s adoption process more like other countries, where anonymity is guaranteed.

She said public access to records would be restricted under the new act.

She explained: “It will maximise privacy protection for all concerned so that people can first consider adoption within Bermuda instead of going overseas.”

The bill also brings in new legislation to support neglected children and orphans, while new guidelines have been added for people adopting children from overseas.

It also gives a mother under the age of 16 the right to consent to adoption without consulting her parents.

“It’s a big step up from where we previously stood with the existing act,” added Sen. Morris.