Understanding the Hague

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What is the Hague Convention?
The United States is making preparations to ratify the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (the Convention), a multilateral treaty concluded on May 29, 1993. The United States signed the Convention in 1994. In 2000, the U.S. Congress passed the Intercountry Adoption Act (the IAA), which provides for U.S. implementation of the Convention. At the same time, the Senate also gave its advice and consent authorizing U.S. ratification of the Convention once preparations for its implementation are in place. The Department of State (the Department) was designated as the U.S. Central Authority with respect to the Convention and has been undertaking these preparations, which are well underway and likely to be completed in 2007. CCI is currently seeking Hague accreditation in order to continue serving children and families in other Hague countries. The Convention takes measures to further protect the rights of children and promote the rights of adoptive families, as an agency CCI adheres to high ethical standards and supports the standards of the Convention.

What if I am beginning the adoption process or am currently in the process of adoption - how will my adoption be affected?
This is my personal explanation: The Intercountry Adoption Act states if an advanced processing of an orphan petition (I600-A) or a petition to classify an orphan as an immediate relative (I-600) is filed before the US enters into force, the Convention standards would not apply to the adoption case. The US intends to enter into force in early 2008. In other words, your adoption case would be "grandfathered in" and the adoption would continue under the past regulations governing intercountry adoption before the US ratified. If you are considering beginning an international adoption, remember the Convention standards only apply to other Convention countries. Currently, the only Hague country programs CCI provides adoption services in are China and Guatemala. CCI is seeking Hague Accreditation to be able to continue serving children and families through each of these adoption programs.

What is happening with Guatemala adoptions regarding the Hague Convention?
The Hague Convention treaty is not currently in effect in Guatemala and adoption law is not in compliance, at this time, with the Convention standards. In accordance with Article 46 of the Convention, the Convention entered into force for Guatemala on March 1, 2003. Thus, Guatemala has been party to the Convention since that date. Currently, many organizations including Joint Council for International Children Services and National Council for Adoption are actively working alongside the U.S. Department of State in diligent efforts to find an avenue to implement Convention standards so adoptions between Guatemala and the United States would be able to continue, which is in the best interests of the children awaiting permanent families.

For more information, visit the U.S. State Department to learn more. http://www.travel.state.gov/pdf/Prospective_Adoptive_Parents_Guide.pdf