In 2003, Bulgaria ratified the Hague Convention on Inter-Country Adoption, and created a new adoption system based strictly on the Bulgarian Family Code. The Bulgarian government requires the adoption process to be completed only by accredited Bulgarian adoption agencies. Recently, CHOICES established a professional relationship with Association "CHILDREN UNDER THE RAINBOW" which is fully licensed by the Bulgarian Ministry of Justice to operate as an intercountry adoption intermediary. CHILDREN UNDER THE RAINBOW is a non-profit, non-governmental organization for welfare activities. The Association’s team of professionals has been working in the field of intercountry adoptions since 1992. Its Director is a lawyer; his team includes lawyers, translators, psychologists, pedagogues and paediatricians. The Association has facilitated adoptions of Bulgarian children to many European countries. Unofficial statistics indicate that there are 10,000 children in Bulgaria in need of a family and a home.