And the Pressure Builds…

After the DOS (Department of State) issued an exaggerated and hysterical announcement on the state of adoptions in Guatemala and succeeded in inducing anxiety and panic in the adoption community, there have been several excellent and balanced responses from responsible organizations.

The NCFA (National Council for Adoption) makes the following statement:

“Almost everyone in the American adoption community agrees that the Guatemalan system needs reform. However, NCFA does not agree with the State Department’s unqualifiedly negative assessment of Guatemalan adoptions. Many thousands of Guatemalan-born children, former orphans, are... more

I don't think that anyone following Guatemalan adoptions and politics was any too optimistic that our President's recent trip to Guatemala would have any impact on the tragic fact that adoptions from there may be closed for who knows how long time in the near future. Here is what George said publicly, taken from the White House press release:

We also talked about adoption. I don't know if my fellow citizens understand this, but there are a lot of U.S. families who adopt babies from Guatemala, thousands of babies. This year it is very important for the United States and Guatemala to implement the Hague Convention on adoptions to help protect children and families during... more

I read Marcy's (beachykeen) post on the Guatemala Adoption Forum (World's Best Source for Information and Community). She linked to the latest release from the State Department about the Hague Convention. Thanks Marcy! I went and got it and have brought it here for you to read and comment on. Most importantly, read it carefully and plan accordingly. As I get wind of new information, I will try and bring it to you in a timely manner.

Guatemala: Intercountry Adoptions and the Hague Adoption Convention December 15, 2006 The Hague Adoption Convention:

The Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect... more

Many of you see the term "Hague" or "The Hague Convention" and see reactions to those words but never have familiarized yourself with them. Most are somewhat aware of the stoppage "The Hague" caused in Guatemala almost 3 years ago. If you are not up on the latest information on any information about "The Hague Convention" then you must read the following statement. This was provided to the Moose by fellow Adoption Forum member Tifany E Markee, Esq. who has extensive knowledge in immigration law. A special thanks is due her for providing the forum and now... more

This information has been pulled straight from the State Department Website. Please take a moment to read the information. If you are not familiar with the Hague Convention, please follow the links offered within the article. This is a pertinent piece of news for all prospective and currently adopting parents.

Intercountry Adoptions and the Hague Convention: Guatemala

The United States intends to ratify in 2007 the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. When the Convention enters into force for... more