Guatemala Adoption Program Update
March 28, 2007
Adoption Associates, Inc. has been closely monitoring the current statements by the U.S. State Department, the Guatemalan President, the National Council for Adoption, the Joint Council on International Children’s Services, the Asociacion Defensores de La Adopcion (ADA), and the media regarding the future of Guatemalan adoptions. While we have not closed our program, we are strongly cautioning families considering this program about the risks of possible considerable delays in the time to process cases, and increased scrutiny of cases by the U.S. Embassy and the Guatemalan government. The Manual of Good Practice, announced by the Guatemalan President, has the potential to suspend all adoptions. If it is implemented, the ADA is poised to file criminal charges, and will use all legal resources against it. The Manual of Good Practice usurps the legislative powers of the Guatemalan Congress.
Meanwhile, representatives from the Joint Council, the ADA, and some Guatemalan Congressmen announced the pending presentation of new legislation to the Congress in Guatemala, which may take place the third or fourth week of March. The goal of this legislation is to reform the current process, ensure Hague compliancy, and protect the right of every child to permanency through intercountry adoption.
AAI recommends that families who wish to adopt from Guatemala continue to check with us on the current status. We encourage you to get information on our other programs as well to see what additional options you may have.
Families who are currently waiting to be matched with a child may be encouraged to travel to Guatemala once they receive and accept a referral. These families would sign the Power of Attorney there in an effort to save time in getting a case legally registered in Guatemala as quickly as possible.
We encourage each of you to get involved by contacting your congressmen and expressing your concern over the plight of many Guatemalan children who may be robbed of their only hope for a family and a future.
