UNICEF urges Ukraine to ratify the Hague Convention
© UNICEF/UKRAINE/2011/G.Pirozzi
Kyiv, January 16, 2013 – UN Children’s Fund in Ukraine supports President Yanukovych’s initiative and urges Ukraine to ratify the Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-country Adoptions (the Hague Convention).
UNICEF believes that all decisions relating to children, including adoptions, should be made with the best interests of the child as the primary consideration. The Hague Convention on International Adoptions promotes transparent processes and UNICEF urges national authorities to follow the guidelines and principles laid down in the Convention.
“Lack of regulation and oversight, particularly in countries of origin, coupled with the potential for financial gain, has spurred the growth of an industry around adoption where profit, rather than the best interests of children, takes central stage. Many countries around the world have recognised the risks, and have ratified the Hague Convention on Inter-Country Adoption to protect the best interests of each individual child” - explained UNICEF Representative in Ukraine.