According to media sources, the Kyrgyzstan government has revoked accreditation of intercountry adoption agencies. The order allegedly comes from the Ministry of Social Development and is translated as follows: The order states: to terminate the force of accreditation certificates for international adoption of children without parental care of the following foreign organizations: – Child and Future Agency (the Netherlands); – …
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Legislative Update: Universal Accreditation Introduced
Two identical bills were recently introduced, one in the House, one in the Senate, to amend the Intercountry Adoption Act, expanding the requirement for accreditation for all US adoption agencies offering intercountry adoption services. Both versions have been introduced and are now in Committee. The full text of the amendments can be found here (they are identical): House version: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr6027/textSenate …
Kyrgyzstan Investigating Allegations of Bribery in Agency Accreditation
According to news sources, Kyrgyzstan’s social development minister was arrested on Wednesday July 4, 2012 under suspicion of seeking at least $15,000 in bribes from a United States adoption agency. According to the media, the US agency had paid $10,000 in bribes to become accredited to participate in intercountry adoptions from Kyrgyzstan under the Hague, and the minister was seeking …
DOS Adoption Alert: Haiti & the Hague Convention
Haiti July 16, 2012 Alert: Haiti Approves Ratification of the Hague Adoption Convention Haiti’s adoption authority, l’Institut du Bien-Etre Sociale et de Recherches (IBESR), confirmed that the Haitian Parliament approved ratification of the Hague Adoption Convention on June 11, 2012, although it is our understanding that Haiti has not yet deposited its instrument of ratification to the Convention. The Convention …
DOS Adoption Notice: South Africa
South Africa July 5, 2012 Notice: Adoptions from South Africa to Begin With Approval of U.S. Adoption Service Providers On June 6, 2012, the Department of State’s Special Advisor for Children’s Issues, Susan Jacobs, and U.S. Consulate General Johannesburg officials met with the South African Ministry of Social Development’s Central Authority (SACA) to clarify South African intercountry adoption procedures. …
DOS Announcement: Approval of Bi-Lateral Adoption Agreement with Russia
Russia July 10, 2012 Notice: Approval of the Agreement between the United States of America and the Russian Federation Regarding Cooperation in Adoption of Children On July 10, 2012 the Russian Duma approved the bilateral adoption agreement signed by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on July 13, 2011. This marks a significant milestone toward …
DOS and USCIS Notices on Adoption from Montenegro
The US Department of State, Office of Children’s Issues and the USCIS released statements today concerning adoptions from Montenegro: DOS Notice: Montenegro July 3, 2012 Notice: The Hague Adoption Convention Enters Into Force for Montenegro “On July 1, 2012, the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-Operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption entered into force for Montenegro. However, …
DOS Adoption Notice: The Hague Adoption Convention Enters into Force for Rwanda
Rwanda July 2, 2012 Notice: The Hague Adoption Convention Enters into Force for Rwanda On July 1, 2012 the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-Operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Convention) entered into force for Rwanda. However, the Government of Rwanda has notified the U.S. Embassy in Kigali that the current suspension on intercountry adoptions will remain in …
Ambassador Jacobs Travels to Guatemala with Sen. Mary Landrieu
Special Advisor for Children’s Issues Travels to Guatemala Media NoteOffice of the SpokespersonWashington, DCJuly 2, 2012 Special Advisor for Children’s Issues Ambassador Susan Jacobs is visiting Guatemala from July 1-3 as part of a Congressional Delegation led by Senator Mary Landrieu. The delegation, which includes officials from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), is meeting with Guatemalan officials …
Australian Central Authority Closes Ethiopian Program
Today, June 28, 2012, the Australian government announced that its Ethiopian Adoption Program has been closed. Below is the notice published on the Attorney General’s website: Closure of Ethiopia Program – June 2012 Current as at – 28 June 2012Key points: Australia has closed its intercountry adoption program with Ethiopia, following several years of issues with the Program, a suspension …