Adoption Locator

On Jan 13, 2007, the New York Times ran an article entitled ?A Taste of U.S. Family Life, but Adoption in Limbo.? It mentioned the crisis following the resignation of the Director of Ukraine?s new Department for Adoptions, leaving the status of adoption of 90,000 orphans in limbo.

In 2005, The Spectator reported on a new campaign by the Russian government to increase adoption of its estimated 700,000 orphans. The campaign included national TV advertisements and a website with 180,000 children sorted by age, physical traits, hair and eye color and personality, such as sociable, lively, shy, and calm.

The world of unregulated adoption have long suffered from suspicion among the ordinary citizens of the Soviet nations. To quote the head of the Russian Education Ministry department for children’s rights and social welfare: ‘’We understand people need to pay money for translators, drivers, and lawyers. But for the average Russian who reads the newspapers, it looks like people are buying and selling babies.'’

In response, the United States Department of States has decided to fully implement the terms of the Hague Convention, which was first signed in 1994. This decision prompted a visit to Russia and Ukraine From September 25 to October 3, 2006 by a delegation headed by the Joint Council on International Children’s Services.

In the trip report, the Russian officials were ?pleased to hear that the Hague implementing regulations authorize America?s central authority to require parents? and agencies? compliance with the laws of Hague-ratified countries of origin.?

Requiring adoption agencies to be accredited by the government can be seen as one step to improve the credibility and therefore to stabilize the future status of adoption in Russia.

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