Thankful

I am very thankful for all the people who are working hard to keep VN adoptions open and to make sure that they are ethical. Here's the latest updates from the JCICS page:

July 29. 2008

On Friday, July 26, 2008, Joint Council participated in a briefing of over 60 Congressional offices on issues related to international children’s services with particular attention to intercountry adoption in Vietnam and Guatemala.

The panel presented varying perspectives on the issues facing intercountry adoption in Vietnam and Guatemala. Regarding Vietnam the issue of a new Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), the impact of a potential moratorium, concerns over corruptive practices and the current referral process including those children and families who may not be referred were addressed in detail.

The panel also provided information to the Congressional offices on ways in which Congress can support international children’s services, maintain the viability of intercountry adoption as an important element in providing children with permanent families and advocating for their constituents seeking to adopt a child in need of a family.

Among a variety of suggestions, the panel asked the Congressional offices to advocate via individual letters, with the government of Vietnam to finalize a new MOA by September 1, 2008.

In addition to Joint Council President Tom DiFilipo, Lynn Song, Executive Director of Joint Council Member Organization Ethica Inc., Susan Cox, Vice-President of Holt International and Vice-Chairperson of Joint Council’s Board of Directors, along with Tom Atwood and Chuck Johnson, respectively President and Vice-President of the National Council For Adoption participated in the briefing. Joint Council extends its appreciation to the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute and the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Co-Chairs for coordinating the two-hour briefing and to all Congressional staff who chose to attend.

July 28, 2008

As reported in the VietNamNet Bridge, on July 25, the Vietnam National Assembly discussed Vietnam’s participation in the Hague Convention. The article reports that the Ministry of Justice suggested that the country establish a specific office to implement the convention, which would be responsible to the State for protecting children given up for adoption in foreign countries. The full article is posted below and can be found at VietNamNet Bridge.

Joint Council sees this open discussion by high level officials as evidence of Vietnam’s serious efforts to join the international community in adding needed protections for the families and children of Vietnam and as a positive indicator regarding a new and protective Memorandum of Agreement with the U.S.