Intercountry Adoption Implementation Assistance Programme
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b) Progress with the implementation assistance programme for the 1993 Convention and follow-up on the Special Commission of 2005 on the operation of the 1993 Convention
Ms Degeling (Principal Legal Officer) reminded experts of the Special Commission held in September 2005 to review the operation of the
Hague Convention of 29 May 1993 on Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of Intercountry Adoption and that the report from this Special Commission was published in August 2006. She noted that during the course of this Special Commission, there was a proposal to revise the draft Guide to Good Practice. She announced that the revision of the draft Guide to Good Practice is almost completed and expected that an English version would be completed at the end of April with the final French and Spanish versions to follow.
Ms Degeling announced that concerning a Guide to Good Practice in respect of accreditation, preliminary research regarding model core criteria for accreditation of adoption bodies have been made thanks to the assistance of Ms Barbara Liegel, Intern with the Permanent Bureau.
She noted the Conclusions of the Special Commission, in particular the recommendation to collect and disseminate information on different countries in order to facilitate access to information, and the role of the Permanent Bureau in this regard. Moreover, she indicated that draft country profile form – examined at a meeting of European Central Authorities in Basel in October 2006 – are currently available on the website of the Hague Conference. She mentioned that two States Parties, Lithuania and Denmark, had already completed the forms and that preparing draft model forms, establishing further guides to good practice and improving statistics still had to be done.
Ms Degeling introduced the Intercountry Adoption Implementation Assistance Programme. The initial phases of the Programme had been generously funded by the Government of the Netherlands. Assistance in implementing the Convention had been offered to two countries: Guatemala and Kenya. In particular, she indicated that the Guatemalan Government is making special efforts to implement the Adoption Convention.
An expert inquired as to the situation of Cambodia and asked whether there was any news regarding Guatemala's ratification of the Convention. Ms Degeling responded that Cambodia has not yet indicated a desire to join the Adoption Convention [Note by the Permanent Bureau:
40
in the meantime, Cambodia did accede to the Convention, on 6 April 2207
4] and invited Mr Goicoechea (Liaison Legal Officer for Latin America) to respond to the question regarding Guatemala.
Mr Goicoechea (Liaison Legal Officer for Latin America) gave an overview of the situation in Guatemala.
The Secretary General remarked that many countries in Africa and Asia, would like to benefit from the intercountry adoption implementation assistance programme. It is, therefore, necessary to contemplate methods of responding to these numerous requests.
Ms Degeling (Principal Legal Officer) reminded experts of the Special Commission held in September 2005 to review the operation of the
Hague Convention of 29 May 1993 on Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of Intercountry Adoption and that the report from this Special Commission was published in August 2006. She noted that during the course of this Special Commission, there was a proposal to revise the draft Guide to Good Practice. She announced that the revision of the draft Guide to Good Practice is almost completed and expected that an English version would be completed at the end of April with the final French and Spanish versions to follow.
Ms Degeling announced that concerning a Guide to Good Practice in respect of accreditation, preliminary research regarding model core criteria for accreditation of adoption bodies have been made thanks to the assistance of Ms Barbara Liegel, Intern with the Permanent Bureau.
She noted the Conclusions of the Special Commission, in particular the recommendation to collect and disseminate information on different countries in order to facilitate access to information, and the role of the Permanent Bureau in this regard. Moreover, she indicated that draft country profile form – examined at a meeting of European Central Authorities in Basel in October 2006 – are currently available on the website of the Hague Conference. She mentioned that two States Parties, Lithuania and Denmark, had already completed the forms and that preparing draft model forms, establishing further guides to good practice and improving statistics still had to be done.
Ms Degeling introduced the Intercountry Adoption Implementation Assistance Programme. The initial phases of the Programme had been generously funded by the Government of the Netherlands. Assistance in implementing the Convention had been offered to two countries: Guatemala and Kenya. In particular, she indicated that the Guatemalan Government is making special efforts to implement the Adoption Convention.
An expert inquired as to the situation of Cambodia and asked whether there was any news regarding Guatemala's ratification of the Convention. Ms Degeling responded that Cambodia has not yet indicated a desire to join the Adoption Convention [Note by the Permanent Bureau:
40
in the meantime, Cambodia did accede to the Convention, on 6 April 2207
4] and invited Mr Goicoechea (Liaison Legal Officer for Latin America) to respond to the question regarding Guatemala.
Mr Goicoechea (Liaison Legal Officer for Latin America) gave an overview of the situation in Guatemala.
The Secretary General remarked that many countries in Africa and Asia, would like to benefit from the intercountry adoption implementation assistance programme. It is, therefore, necessary to contemplate methods of responding to these numerous requests.
2007 Jan 1