Recently I’ve seen several posts on web groups questioning the effect and effectiveness of signing petitions and writing letters protesting some of the harmful changes in the Guatemalan adoption process.

We need only look at the progress made in the last couple weeks to answer this question. The US Department of State has already posted a revised statement supporting grandfathering all adoptions in process before the Hague is implemented in Guatemala.

UNICEF Guatemala has almost come out with a declaration supporting grandfathering. Often a day late and a dollar short UNICEF is notorious for being more concerned with alienating politicians than the welfare of children.

In Guatemala, although the adoption not-friendly Ortega Bill was passed, an amendment to grandfather in adoptions in process has been drawn up by the Children’s Committee in Congress and will probably be voted on after the November elections.

The petition written up by Focus on Adoption had more than 34,831 signatures when I checked on it fifteen minutes ago!. You can’t sign twice (I kind of tried…) so make sure to pass it around to friends and family.

All these positive changes would not have happened without the determination of people who care about the children of Guatemala who are in the process of being adopted by families. With over 25,000 children adopted from Guatemala since 1995, we have the power to make politicians listen. This is not abuse of power or unnecessary lobbying; children’s lives are in the balance.

If you aren’t the type who likes to write letters to senators, sign petitions or wave banners at protests, let me give you an incentive: your children born in Guatemala. Down the road when your children are reading the history of Guatemalan adoptions, you will be able to provide copies of petitions you signed and letters you wrote (don't forget to make the copies; you can put them in their life books or albums). I believe that our children will care that we were involved; that we didn’t sit back and do nothing.

Now a reminder: the JCICS recommends focusing our attentions on the US Congress and UNICEF New York. Tomorrow is the last day for the 5000 Initiative “bombardment” of all the entities who have influence on the Guatemalan adoption process.

Here is the all the information you need to be part of this excellent effort to make things happen:

1. Call your U.S. Senator.
• You can find your Senators’ phone numbers at www.senate.gov
• Ask to speak with the Legislative Director or Chief of Staff

2. Call your second U.S. Senator.

3. Call your representative to the U.S. House of Representative.
• You can find your representative at www.house.gov
• Ask to speak with the Legislative Director or Chief of Staff

4. Call or fax UNICEF Headquarters
• Ask to speak with Ann Veneman, Executive Director
• Their number is 212-326-7000
• Their fax number is 212-326-7758

5. Send an email supporting Intercountry Adoption to guatemala5000@jcics.org
• Write briefly or at length
• Joint Council will use the cumulative email petition in our advocacy for Intercountry Adoption

When should you call?

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday (October 9th, 10th, 11th)

For maximum affect, we are asking you to make these calls within a 72 hour window!

What should you say or write to a member of the U.S. Congress?

Speak from your heart and give them the following information:
• Inform them that you are calling regarding the Guatemala 5000.
• Ask them to sign the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) sponsored letter to President Oscar Berger
• If they do not have the letters, ask them to contact CCAI at 202-544-8500.
• Ask them to sign the Joint Council sponsored letter to UNICEF
• Inform them that the Guatemalan government has announced that all intercountry adoptions with the United States will be suspended on January 1, 2008.
• Inform them that President Berger's initial announcement also indicated that there will be no 'grandfathering' of adoptions already in process.
• Inform them that if children referred to families are not allowed to be adopted, they will languish in institutions or foster care.
• Ask that their office get involved and sign the sponsored letters to the President of Guatemala and UNICEF. These letters ask that all adoptions in-process as of January 1, 2008 be allowed to process to completion under the existing notorial laws.
What should you say or write to UNICEF Headquarters in New York?
Speak from your heart and give them the following information
• Inform them that you are calling regarding the Guatemala 5000.
• Ask them to support the rights of children and lend their considerable influence to ensuring that intercountry adoptions currently in-process be allowed to process to completion under the existing notorial laws.
• Inform them that the Guatemalan government has announced that all adoptions with the U.S. will be suspended on January 1, 2008.
• Inform them that President Berger’s announcement also indicated that there will be no ‘grandfathering’ of adoptions already in process.
• Inform them that if children referred to families are not allowed to be adopted, they will languish in institutions or foster care.
• Ask them again for their support of the Guatemala 5000 Initiative.
Can you explain the problem behind the pending crisis? Here is some additional information…
• Guatemalan President Oscar Berger has announced plans to effectively stop all adoptions into the United States including those children who have already been referred to adoptive parents; over 5,000 children have been referred
• The birthparents for these children have already relinquished their parental rights. As a result, they currently have no family and the Berger suspension will result in these children having no prospect for a permanent, safe and loving family
• The government of Guatemala currently does not have the finances or facilities to even provide housing for these 5,000 children

The Berger plan is a crisis waiting to happen

What else can you do? In addition to your primary calls to U.S. Congress and UNICEF, you can contact the following:

SOSEP (Guatemala)
• Director Teresa Echeverría de Bastarrechea
Office Phone - 011-502-2383-8400
• Assistant Director - Edin Palma - Same office phone
Office Phone - 011-502-2383-8400
• Jaime Tecu
Office Phone - 011-502-2239-0000 ext 2766
Please note that calls and faxes to Guatemala are international calls

Guatemala Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Minister Gerth Rosenthal
Office Phone 011-502-2410-0000, 2410-0010
• Vice Minister - Marta Altoaguirre
Office Phone 011-502-2410-0020
Please note that calls and faxes to Guatemala are international calls

PGN (Guatemala)
• Carlos Victor Hugo Barrios Barahona
Office Phone 011-502-2248-3200 Ext. 207/208
Please note that calls and faxes to Guatemala are international calls

Procuraduria of Human Rights
• Dr. Sergio Morales
Office Phone 011-502-2424-1717
Please note that calls and faxes to Guatemala are international calls

Embassy of Guatemala in the U.S.
2220 R Street N.W.
Washington, DC 20008
Office Phone 1-202-745-4952
Office Fax 1-202-745-1908
www.guatemala-embassy.org/
you need:


Source for Information on Guatemala 5000 Initiative