View Hague Convention on Adoption of Children: http://www.hcch.net/upload/conventions/txt33en.pdf
What is the purpose of this act?
What powers are conferred on the state or its agents?
How does this act benefit society?
List governmental and community based agencies that work within this legislated act.
What issues may be associated with the administration of this act?
How would you support and advocate for your clients in relationship to this act?
Identify community resources in your area that may assist clients to navigate through legal systems.
Toll Free: 1 888 479-9811
Describe and explain current or historical events as seen through the media that relate to this act, convention or charter. Provide a related link or copy of a newspaper article.
Haiti earthquake and intercountry adoption of children
By Frederike Stikkelbroeck, Hague Conference, January 20, 2010
http://www.hcch.net/upload/haiti_e.pdf
After the earthquake in Haiti, the need to protect vulnerable, at risk children of illegal adoption, abduction, sale and trafficking was high. Throughout the disaster situation, safeguards could not be ignored. Efforts to reunite displaced children with his or her family were first priority, but in the unfortunate case that this was not possible, children needed to be adopted into safe families.
What is the purpose of this act?
- To establish safeguards to ensure that inter-country adoptions take place in the best interests of the child respects his or her fundamental rights as recognized in international law.
- It is in place to establish a system of cooperation amongst Contracting States (the country of origin and the receiving country) to ensure that those safeguards are respected and thereby prevent the abduction, the sale of, or trafficking of children.
What powers are conferred on the state or its agents?
- The Hague Conference monitors this Convention of the Rights of the Child. The Conference consists of 72 members, 71 states (i.e. Countries), and 1 regional economic integration organization. Canada has been included in the conference since they joined in 1968. If the law of British Columbia conflicts with the Convention, the Convention prevails.
How does this act benefit society?
- It reduces the risk of slavery, sexual exploitation, infant fatality and child abduction by ensuring adoptive families undergo screening prior to receiving a child
List governmental and community based agencies that work within this legislated act.
- Family Outreach International: http://www.familyoutreach.com/
- Adoptive Families Association of BC: http://www.bcadoption.com/site_page.asp?pageid=15
- Adoptive Parents: http://www.adoptiveparents.ca/bc_licensedadoptionagencies.shtml
- The Adoption Centre of British Columbia: http://kcr.ca/adoption-services/the-adoption-centre-of-british-columbia
What issues may be associated with the administration of this act?
- Depending on regulations, the Provincial director may reveal to an adult who, as a child, was adopted in agreement with the Convention any information in the Provincial director's records concerning the adult's origin. This could be seen as a power for the child; however, it could adversely affect the biological parent.
- The Convention covers only adoptions that create a permanent parent-child relationship.
How would you support and advocate for your clients in relationship to this act?
- I would advocate for my client, if old enough, by ensuring that they consented to being adopted out of the country and confirming that they understood the adoption process prior to completing the placement
Identify community resources in your area that may assist clients to navigate through legal systems.
- Choices Adoption and Counselling Services: http://www.choicesadoption.ca/home/index.php
Toll Free: 1 888 479-9811
Describe and explain current or historical events as seen through the media that relate to this act, convention or charter. Provide a related link or copy of a newspaper article.
Haiti earthquake and intercountry adoption of children
By Frederike Stikkelbroeck, Hague Conference, January 20, 2010
http://www.hcch.net/upload/haiti_e.pdf
After the earthquake in Haiti, the need to protect vulnerable, at risk children of illegal adoption, abduction, sale and trafficking was high. Throughout the disaster situation, safeguards could not be ignored. Efforts to reunite displaced children with his or her family were first priority, but in the unfortunate case that this was not possible, children needed to be adopted into safe families.