The duration of meetings with social workers and training periods for individuals wishing to adopt children deprived of parental care is being shortened.

Operativ Media reports that President Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree amending the "Rules for the adoption of children deprived of parental care, including the adoption of children who are citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan by foreigners and stateless persons."

According to the decree, meetings between prospective parents and a child deprived of parental care will be organized at the institution where the child is placed for at least 20 hours over a period of one month to facilitate acquaintance and build family bonds.

Under the previous rules, this period was at least 40 hours over two months.

Additionally, for children under the age of three who are deprived of parental care, the period can be shortened to up to six hours over 10 days, based on a social worker's report. Under the previous rules, this was up to 12 hours over 20 days.