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EmailGuatemalan Congress Confirms Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption
updated June 4, 2007
On May 22, 2007, the Congress of Guatemala passed legislation approving the Hague Intercountry Adoption Convention. The bill
has an effective date of December 31, 2007 for the Convention, and clarifies the legal status of the Convention within Guatemala.
This confirmation of Guatemala's commitment to set standards of protection of children in the adoption process is an important
step toward implementing the Convention. However, there is much for Guatemala to do before its adoption process is fully consistent
with its obligations under the Convention. We are hopeful that Guatemala will move quickly to pass legislation and establish
the appropriate infrastructure to meet its obligations under the Convention.
When the Convention enters into force for the U.S., we will not be able to approve adoptions from Guatemala if Guatemala’s
adoption process does not provide the protections for children and families required by the Convention.
Upon the request of the Guatemalan Government, the Hague Permanent Bureau and several Convention countries, including the United States, are prepared to engage in a cooperative effort to provide Guatemala with technical assistance on the Convention, including evaluating draft legislation. The Hague Permanent Bureau has invited the United States to participate in this effort and we have accepted. The United States Government supports this multilateral process and its goal of working with the Government of Guatemala to develop implementing legislation consistent with its obligations under the Hague Convention. We will continue to work closely with Guatemalan authorities and the intercountry adoption community with the hope that the United States and Guatemala can continue to make intercountry adoption an option for children who cannot find families in Guatemala after the Convention enters into force for the U.S.
