DOS Adoption Alert: Government of Laos Announces Suspension of Intercountry Adoption

Laos

March 30, 2012
Alert: Government of Laos Announces Suspension of Intercountry Adoption

The Office of the Government of Laos announced on February 20, 2012, that the authorization to allow foreigners to adopt Lao children is suspended until appropriate regulations and procedures are established on intercountry adoption. Updated information will be provided as it becomes available on adoption.state.gov.

http://adoption.state.gov/country_information/country_specific_alerts_notices.php?alert_notice_type=alerts&alert_notice_file=laos_1

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Ethics, Transparency, Support
~ What All Adoptions Deserve.
http://www.pear-now.org/

UPDATE: Families For Orphans Act

According to reports from Gov Tracks, both the House and Senate versions of the Families for Orphans Act have died in committee. PEAR, along with numerous other adoption reform and child welfare organizations opposed the FFOA. A history of our comments and position on the FFOA can be found on our blog: http://pear-now.blogspot.com/search/label/Families%20for%20Orphans%20Act

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Ethics, Transparency, Support
~ What All Adoptions Deserve.
http://www.pear-now.org/

DOS Adoption Notice: Suspension of all Intercountry Adoptions in Bhutan

Bhutan

March 23, 2012
Alert: Notice on Suspension of all Intercountry Adoptions in Bhutan

Effective January 1, 2012, the Government of Bhutan temporarily suspended all intercountry adoptions pending approval of a new adoption law by the King. The adoption bill was drafted to clarify Bhutan’s adoption procedures. The National Commission for Women and Children (NCWC), the Bhutanese government agency responsible for overseeing intercountry adoptions, is unable to estimate how long it will take for the adoption bill to be approved, but indicated it is not aware of any pending cases involving the adoption of a Bhutanese child by U.S. citizens. Prospective adoptive parents who believe the suspension affects their adoption of a child from Bhutan may contact the NCWC by email at admin@ncwc.org.bt to inquire about the status of their case. The NCWC indicated it will review each case on an individual basis.

Prospective adoptive parents may also visit NCWC’s website for additional information about adoptions in Bhutan. Please also continue to monitor adoption.state.gov for updated information.

http://adoption.state.gov/country_information/country_specific_alerts_notices.php?alert_notice_type=alerts&alert_notice_file=bhutan_1

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Ethics, Transparency, Support
~ What All Adoptions Deserve.
http://www.pear-now.org/

Reinstatement of a Second U.S. Adoption Agency by IHNFA

February 29, 2012

Reinstatement of a Second U.S. Adoption Agency by IHNFA (Instituto Hondureño de la Niñez y la Familia)

The U.S. Embassy in Honduras informs citizens that the Instituto Hondureño de la Niñez y la Familia (IHNFA ) recently reinstated U.S. adoption agency Living Hope Adoption Agency, per IHNFA’s resolution SG-014-2012. This message updates the prior Message for U.S. citizens published on January 30, 2012. Living Hope Adoption Agency is now accredited by IHNFA and is approved to process adoptions for families in Honduras. Both Living Hope Adoption Agency and Gladney Center for Adoption, which were reported on January 30^th to have been barred by IHNFA, have now been reinstated by IHNFA to process adoptions.

The Embassy continues to monitor the adoption situation in Honduras and will update U.S. citizens accordingly. Meanwhile, we recommended that families who have not finalized adoptions contact IHNFA directly at 011-504-2235-3565 to be sure their applications are handled by an accredited adoption agency.

http://honduras.usembassy.gov/messuscits12_ihnfaupdate3.html

Note: As of March 23, 2012, this information does not yet appear on the DOS Adoption Notices & Alerts page.

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Ethics, Transparency, Support
~ What All Adoptions Deserve.
http://www.pear-now.org/

DOS Adoption Notice: Update of status of adoptions in Cambodia

Notice: Update of status of adoptions in Cambodia

The Office of Children’s Issues wishes to provide a further update for U.S. citizens interested in intercountry adoptions with Cambodia.

The Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation recently announced to all embassies with diplomatic and consular missions in Cambodia that the Cambodian government has decided to delay the date that it will begin receiving adoption petitions until January 1, 2013. The Cambodian government is still working to establish the necessary internal child welfare structures to function as a Hague partner.

The Special Advisor for Children's Issues, Ambassador Susan Jacobs, met with the host government officials in January 2012 regarding Cambodia’s ability to meet obligations for conducting intercountry adoptions. The United States continues to support Cambodia's efforts to create a child welfare system and an intercountry adoption process that fulfills its obligations under the Hague Adoption Convention. We welcome Cambodia's efforts to fully implement its new law on intercountry adoption.

Updated information will be provided on www.adoption.state.gov as it becomes available.

http://adoption.state.gov/country_information/country_specific_alerts_notices.php?alert_notice_type=notices&alert_notice_file=cambodia_3

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Ethics, Transparency, Support
~ What All Adoptions Deserve.
http://www.pear-now.org/