DOS Announces Colorado Department of Human Services to end role as accrediting entity

Colorado Department of Human Services to end role as accrediting entity December 10, 2012 The U.S. Department of State and the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) signed a final one year extension of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that designates CDHS as an accrediting entity for Hague adoption service providers. The MOA will expire on November 29, 2013, or the …

Ambassador Jacobs, Special Advisor for Children’s Issues Travels to Ethiopia

Special Advisor for Children’s Issues Travels to Ethiopia Media Note Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC December 6, 2012 Special Advisor for Children’s Issues Ambassador Susan Jacobs will visit Ethiopia from December 7-13. She will meet with Ethiopian Government officials to discuss intercountry adoptions and the implementation of the Pre-Adoption Immigration Review (PAIR) program. Jacobs will also meet with non-governmental …

Kyryzstan Update: Reports Indicate Minister Aquitted, Assistant Guilty in Bribery Cases

24.kg media is reporting that Ex-minister of Social Development Ravshan Sabirov was acquitted and his assistant Takhir Mirzakhmedov was sentenced to 6 years of imprisonment in the bribery cases uncovered this summer. http://eng.24.kg/community/2012/11/21/26577.html This updates previous posts to PEAR’s blog: http://pear-now.blogspot.com/search?q=kyrgyzstan Ethics, Transparency, Support~ What All Adoptions Deserve.http://www.pear-now.org/ People for Ethical Adoption Reform www.pear-now.org

DOS Adoption Alert: The Hague Adoption Convention Enters into Force for Lesotho

Lesotho December 5, 2012 Alert: The Hague Adoption Convention Enters into Force for Lesotho On December 1, 2012 the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-Operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Convention) entered into force for Lesotho.  However, the Government of Lesotho notified the U.S. Embassy in Maseru that the Government of Lesotho is suspending receipt of new adoption …

DOS Adoption Alert: Freeze on New Intercountry Adoption Applications

India November 30, 2012 Alert: Freeze on New Intercountry Adoption Applications Effective December 1, 2012, India will not accept new applications for intercountry adoptions from the United States. or other foreign adoption service providers until further notice, in order to clear a backlog of existing cases. Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) will continue to process applications registered prior to December …

DOS Adoption Notice: Update on Inter-country Adoptions in Cambodia

Cambodia November 30, 2012 Notice: Update on Inter-country Adoptions in Cambodia The Special Advisor for Children’s Issues, Ambassador Susan Jacobs, met with host government officials in Cambodia on October 28 and 29 regarding Cambodia’s efforts to meet obligations under the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption (the Convention).  The United States continues to support Cambodia’s efforts to improve its child welfare …

DOS Adoption Notice: Update on Inter-country Adoptions in Cambodia

Cambodia November 30, 2012 Notice: Update on Inter-country Adoptions in Cambodia The Special Advisor for Children’s Issues, Ambassador Susan Jacobs, met with host government officials in Cambodia on October 28 and 29 regarding Cambodia’s efforts to meet obligations under the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption (the Convention).  The United States continues to support Cambodia’s efforts to improve its child welfare …

DOS Adoption Notice: New Malian Law Potentially Restricts Intercountry Adoptions

Mali November 26, 2012 Notice: New Malian Law Potentially Restricts Intercountry Adoptions In December 2011, the Malian National Assembly passed a new Code of Person and the Family. The Code includes a provision that could be interpreted to mean that only Malian nationals would be allowed to complete intercountry adoptions of Malian children. While the Malian Presidency did not issue …

Adverse Action: Children of Africa Enterprises/Hope Adoption Agency loses Hague Accreditation

DOS Notice: Children of Africa Enterprises/Hope Adoption Agency loses Hague Accreditation November 20, 2012 On November 8, 2012 the Council on Accreditation (COA) canceled the Hague accreditation of Children of Africa Enterprises/Hope Adoption Agency (“Hope”) for failing to maintain substantial compliance with the U.S. accreditation standards at 22 Code of Federal Regulations Part 96 Subpart F.  Prior to this date, …

DOS Adoption Notice: Ethiopia – Suspension of Services to U.S. Adoption Service Providers

Ethiopia November 9, 2012 Notice: Suspension of Services to U.S. Adoption Service Providers The Ministry of Women, Children, and Youth Affairs informed the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa that as of September 12, 2012, the Ministry temporarily suspended services to International Adoption Guides and Adoption Advocates International.  This suspension follows reports of abuse to Ethiopian adoptees placed with U.S. families …