Cambodia will resume international adoptions

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- Cambodia will resume international adoptions in 2014, more than four years after suspending them over concerns about child exploitation, an official said.

Deputy Social Affairs Minister Nim Thoth said foreigners interested in adopting Cambodian children would be able to make applications in the next year.

"I can say that we will definitely make sure the process goes ahead in 2014 -- the sooner the better," Thoth said.

Cambodia banned international adoptions in 2009 amid concerns that some children were being trafficked. These concerns had already led the U.S., U.K., France and other key countries to ban adoptions from Cambodia in 2001.

Cambodia lifted its international adoption ban in early 2013, but the lack of protection mechanisms and trained staff had delayed the opening of adoption applications.