Guatemalan Moratoreum?
“I have never said that I want to stop the adoptions,” Berger said. “All my government wants is for the adoption law that is about to pass to be respected and for Guatemala to comply with the Hague Convention.”
Unfortunately, that is what is going to happen for between 3,000 and 5,000 families in the United States. If their adoptions are not finalized before January 1, 2008 their adoption process will officially halt.
Guatemala will be attempting to comply with international standards, or the Hague Convention treaty, which they ratified four years ago but they have not enacted. Additionally, UNICEF has entered the picture and is supporting the moratorium because of rumors of baby snatching and baby “farming” practices.
“UNICEF supports the moratorium so that Guatemala can bring its adoption process in line with other countries … in order to protect not only the rights of children but also of those adopting,” UNICEF spokesman Patrick McCormick said. “There’s no reason why adoptions cannot restart once this has happened.”
The Guatemalan congress will vote next month to “Grandfather” in existing adoption cases even though the plan’s original language does not provide for such exceptions.
Tags: adoptions, adoption_cases, adoption_law, baby_snatching, berger, government_wants, Guatemala, guatemalan, hague_convention, international_standards, january_1, moratorium, rights_of_children, UnicefRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Countries and Domestic
4 opinions for Guatemalan Moratoreum?
Hevel
Oct 29, 2007 at 3:57 pm
Just today one of the leading news in Europe was the Chadian “orphans” possibly being traficked (is that even a word?) to France. It seem rather likely, actually. I think these are the cases when the Hague Convention Treaty should be referred to.
When I was living in California my landlady was in the process of adopting a child from Guatemala. They adopted a beautiful little girl, and they are trying to adopt another child from the same city. They are heartbroken because this moratorium will most likely halt their adoption process as well.
Marcie
Oct 29, 2007 at 8:28 pm
We were just told today that the Grandfather clause will likely go through before Dec. 31 and our agency will probably issue referrals to bring children home before the clause is up.
Carissa
Oct 29, 2007 at 8:58 pm
Marcie - that was going to be my question, if this goes through will this affect you, but it sounds like it would help you! Is there anything further that we can do to help?
Marcie
Oct 29, 2007 at 9:55 pm
Not at this point. Right now the amendment has passed in the US and the vote is in the hands of Guatemala…at least that is what I understand. Can anyone clarify? I’m not that up on politics.
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