September 4, 2012 Notice: The Hague Adoption Convention Enters Into Force for Fiji On August 1, 2012, the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-Operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption entered into force for Fiji. The Department of State has not received information from the Government of Fiji on its plans for implementing the Convention. The United …
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Media Report: Kyrgyzstan Anti-Corruption Agency Announces Findings on Foreign Adoption
The 24kg News Agency is reporting findings of the Anti-Corruption Service under the State Committee for National Security (GKNB)in Kygryzstan. These findings allege the following corrupt practices with respect to the payments of bribes to officials in the Ministry in association with intercountry adoption: 1. Payment by foreign adoption agency of $15,000 – $20,000 in bribes to secure accreditation.2. Payment …
UPDATE: Additional Official Arrested In Kyrgyzstan Corruption Scandal: Gulnara Derbisheva
It has been reported that the arrest of Gulnara Derbisheva, former Deputy Minister of Social Development, took place on August 31, 2012. Ms. Derbisheva has been charged for allegedly accepting bribes in her arranging the adoptions of Kyrgyzstani children. Kyrgyz Adoptions Official Arrested For Bribery, Radio Free Europe September 3, 2012.http://www.rferl.org/content/kyrgyzstan-adoptions-official-bribery/24696219.html Clause of international adoption in Kyrgyzstan favours traffic in …
DOS Adoption Alert: Kazakhstan Suspends Intercountry Adoptions
Kazakhstan August 21, 2012 Alert: Kazakhstan Suspends Intercountry Adoptions The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan informed the U.S. Embassy in Astana on August 9 that Kazakhstan is suspending intercountry adoptions to the United States, effective immediately. Ambassador Susan Jacobs, Special Advisor for Children’s Issues, met with government officials in Kazakhstan on August 16 to address the Ministry’s concerns. The …
COA Substantiated Complaints and Adverse Action Reports
The Council on Accreditation has published the most recent collection of reports of Substantiated Complaints and Adverse Actions for Hague Accredited Agencies and Approved Persons. The Reports are available via the COA’s newly revamped website under the category Monitoring and Oversight. http://coanet.org/programs/hague-accreditation-and-approval/monitoring-and-oversight/ The following agencies are listed in the report as having one or more substantiated complaints. Please use the …
DOS Adoption Notice: Morocco
Morocco August 8, 2012 Notice: Ministry of Justice Plans to Review Kafala Laws and Procedures On July 25, the Moroccan newspaper Akhbar al-Youm (Today’s News) published a story on Justice Minister Mostafa Rahmid’s views on the granting of kafala (guardianship) to non-Muslim, non-resident foreigners. The article quotes Minister Rahmid as saying that he has decided to “stop granting …
UPDATE: Kyrgyzstan – US Special Advisor for Children’s Issues Travels to Kyrgyzstan
The following press release was made yesterday by the Office of Children’s Issues. We are assuming this in response to the recent scandal in Kyrgyzstan involving misconduct by US adoption agencies and the subsequent suspension of their accreditation in Kyrgyzstan. We request the US DOS to disclose the identity of the agency alleged to have given bribes to the Kyrg …
USCIS Revised Country Information for Nepal
USCIS has published an updated version of its country information for Nepal. According to USCIS, “These revisions do not present any significant updates on adoptions in Nepal . Rather, they consolidate existing information and explain the current process for adopting children from Nepal. As this information is intended to help the public, please feel free to share this information.“ …
USCIS Revised Country Information for Nepal
USCIS has published an updated version of its country information for Nepal. According to USCIS, “These revisions do not present any significant updates on adoptions in Nepal . Rather, they consolidate existing information and explain the current process for adopting children from Nepal. As this information is intended to help the public, please feel free to share this information.“ …
DOS Adoption Notice: Russia, President Putin signs the Agreement between the United States of America and the Russian Federation Regarding Cooperation in Adoption of Children
Russia July 31, 2012 Notice: President Putin signs the Agreement between the United States of America and the Russian Federation Regarding Cooperation in Adoption of Children On July 28, 2012, President Putin signed into law the bilateral adoption agreement. The Agreement, which was signed in 2011 by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, aims to …