Guatemala Reopening International Adoptions

After a two-year suspension word is that Guatemala is reopening its international adoptions.

The government halted them in 2007 after discovering evidence of fraud, including fake birth certificates, women being coerced into giving up their children and even baby theft. At least 25 cases led to criminal charges against doctors, lawyers, mothers and civil servants, and thousands of adoptions were put on hold.

But Guatemala's National Adoption Council says legal reforms will prevent such problems in the future and it plans to start a pilot program involving four countries. It did not say when the program would start or which countries would be involved.

Last year, the council began requiring birth mothers to personally verify they still wanted to give up their children.