Guatemala adoption, latin american adoptionGuatemala adoption, (latin american adoption)differ from most international adoptions in that child referrals are handled by the private sector, rather than a centralized government agency. Program currently on hold:no new applications at present.The President of Guatemala, President Oscar Berger, has announced that as of January 1, 2008 intercountry adoptions will be suspended. On this date the Hague Convention will go into force in Guatemala and all adoption cases will be required to meet Hague standards. This will include all cases in process and those filed prior to this date.Guatemala will not be processing any adoptions cases for non-Hague countries, which includes the United States as the Hague does not go into force in the U.S. until April 1, 2008. In addition, all adoption cases that are pending will be suspended. A suspension, according to the Joint Counsel on International Children’s Services, would leave over 5000 children in limbo going to niether a family or a reliable system of care in Guatemala. The children could and will remain in institutional care such as an orphanage or in foster care indefinately. This situation, if it occurs will also be detrimental to the adoptive famiies that have been anxiously preparing their hearts and homes for the arrival of their child from Guatemala. They have set their love on a child, committed to providing that child with family, permanency, and love only to have those promises unfulfilled. There is a large amount of advocacy going on to see that all pending cases can be completed. In addition, groups such as the JCICS are working hard to advocate for the rights of the children of Guatemala and the adoptive parents that love them. With such great uncertainty in the air it is wise to not pursue an adoption from Guatemala at this time. Any referrals from Guatemala of children, regardless of their age or needs, will most likely at this time not result in the placement of a child.
|
