Conclusion of India–Australia Program Review–21 May 2010

The Australian Central Authority has recently concluded its review of the India–Australia Intercountry Adoption Program. The ACA periodically reviews all its programs in accordance with the Intercountry Adoption Strategic Plan. The Attorney?General prioritised the review of the India–Australia intercountry adoption program in light of child trafficking allegations raised in 2008 in relation to intercountry adoption cases around 2000.

The review focused on India’s adoption framework, observance of The Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of Intercountry Adoption, the viability of the program as it currently operates and the possible need for additional safeguards.

The review highlighted that—consistent with global trends—most infant and young children in need of families are able to be placed domestically in India. Sibling groups, older children and those with special needs appear to be the primary categories of children in need of intercountry adoption.

On the whole, the ACA is satisfied that safeguards within India’s adoption framework have improved since trafficking allegations were raised. These ongoing improvements reflect India’s commitment to progressive implementation of the Hague Convention as anticipated by the Permanent Bureau’s Guide to Good Practice on Implementation and Operation of the 1993 Hague Intercountry Adoption Convention.

Organizations: Preet Mandir

Countries: India, Australia

Update on Ethiopia-Australia Intercountry Adoption Program –New Fee Structure and Requirement to Attend Court Hearing – 21 May 2

Update on Ethiopia-Australia Intercountry Adoption Program –New Fee Structure and Requirement to Attend Court Hearing – 21 May 2010

New fee structure

The new fee structure for the Ethiopia program has now been finalised. All files with activity from 6 April 2010 will attract a fee of $9,500USD per application. This includes files already in Ethiopia and files yet to be sent.

This amount will be payable in three instalments–$5,300USD at the time the file is sent, $3,900USD at the time an allocation is accepted and a $300USD in-kind donation to Koala House at the time the child is collected. A summary of the fees is outlined in the below table.

The increase of fees will include sufficient funding for the Australian program administration. A new program fee of $5,400USD will include court processing fees, medical and immigration fees, document verification services, the Australian representatives’ salary, staff salaries and running costs of the program office and Koala House.

Countries: Australia, Ethiopia

Persons: Ato Lakew Gebeyehu

Organizations: Australian Afrian Children's Aid and Support Association (AACASA), Koala House

Jane's Blog: Minnesota Adoption Factsheet- 2007 data - TAX IT

Tax it.Posted on May 21, 2010 by jjtrenka

Minnesota Adoption Factsheet- 2007 data

Children’s Home Society and Family Services Annual Report 2007-2008 (based in Minnesota)

In 2007 –

There were 1,526 foster children in Minnesota waiting to be adopted.

Organizations: Children's Home Society & Family Services, Minnesota (CHSFS)

Sex-obsessed culture, lack of social services blamed for rise in human trafficking at Fort Worth

Sex-obsessed culture, lack of social services blamed for rise in human trafficking at Fort Worth forum

12:00 AM CDT on Friday, May 21, 2010

By JASON TRAHAN / The Dallas Morning News

jtrahan@dallasnews.com

FORT WORTH – An increasingly sexualized consumer society and inadequate funding for social services are major reasons why more young girls are being pressed into sexual slavery, a human-trafficking expert told a Fort Worth audience Thursday.

Countries: United States of America

As Profitable as the Drug Trade

05/21/2010

As Profitable as the Drug Trade

China's Child-Trafficking Epidemic

By Andreas Lorenz in Beijing

Countries: China

Ombudsman says foreign adoptions suspended

21.05.2010, 04.04

NALCHIK, May 21 (Itar-Tass) -- Russian ombudsman for children’s rights Pavel Astakhov confirmed on Thursday that foreign adoptions had been suspended in the country until bilateral agreements are signed to protect the children.

“Foreign adoption of Russian children has been de-facto suspended,” he told reporters, adding de-jure decision has not been passed so far.

“According to the Family Code, foreign adoption is a temporary and exclusive measure related to children who cannot be adopted in Russia which is allowed only on the basis of bilateral international agreements,” Astakhov said adding such an agreement with the United States would resolve the legal adoption collision.

“Otherwise over 70 thousand earlier adopted children in the United States will be outlawed,” he said.

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=15148629&PageNum=0

Countries: United States of America, Russia

David Furnish had no adoption age concerns

Sir Elton John and David Furnish didn't even think about their respective ages when they tried to adopt a Ukrainian orphan last year, which was ultimately rejected because Elton was deemed too old.

Posted : Fri, 21 May 2010 08:38:35 GMT

By : Bang Media

Category : Entertainment

News Alerts by Email ( click here )

Entertainment News | Home

Sir Elton John and David Furnish didn't even think about their respective ages when they tried to adopt a Ukrainian orphan last year, which was ultimately rejected because Elton was deemed too old.

David Furnish has revealed he and Sir Elton John never thought the singer's age would stop them from adopting.

The Canadian filmmaker and his musician husband tried to give a home to HIV-positive Ukrainian child Lev last year, but were rejected because Elton, at 63, was deemed too old and because of their gay marriage.

Speaking at the Butterfly Ball in London's Battersea Park, David told BANG Showbiz: "We did take age into consideration but we are both like teenagers anyway so it wasn't an issue for us."

Although Ukrainian law stopped them from becoming parents, the 47-year-old star has revealed the couple will try again.

He said: "We were both just so heartbroken by what happened last year, we just want to have a break and enjoy the summer."

David insists he and Elton will look at adopting from other countries but admits it is difficult for gay couples all over the world, even in the UK.

He said: "It's very difficult even in Britain. I think we are going to look at different places in the future, but not for now."

The star-studded Butterfly Ball, which was held in to raise money for the Caudwell Children charity, was also attended by Elizabeth Hurley, Peter Andre, Dame Shirley Bassey, Lulu, Sarah Ferguson - the Duchess of York and Princess Beatrice.

The charity supports children with over 300 different conditions.

Copyright, respective author or news agency

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/324789,david-furnish-had-no-adoption-age-concerns.html

Countries: Ukraine, Canada, United States of America

Persons: Elton John

Adoption agencies to be struck off for ‘wrongdoing’

Sunday, May 23, 2010 Previous editions

Ireland: Dry with mostly clear blue skies and lot »

Adoption agencies to be struck off for ‘wrongdoing’
By Conall O Fátharta

Friday, May 21, 2010

ANY adoption agency which engages in illegal practices should be de-registered and if necessary the case referred to An Garda Síochána, the chairman of the Adoption Board has said.

The issue of illegal adoptions was raised with Geoffrey Shannon following the Irish Examiner’s investigation into the case of Tressa Reeves, whose son was illegally adopted and falsely registered as the natural child of the adoptive parents. This was facilitated by St Patrick’s Guild adoption agency, which remains fully accredited by the Adoption Board, despite the board being aware of the case since 2001.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Prime Time, chairman of the Adoption Board Geoffrey Shannon gave a personal guarantee that any such cases would be investigated and if necessary referred to the relevant authorities.

"I don’t want to become involved in discussing individual cases, but what I am saying is, if anybody has concerns in relation to their individual case, that I am giving a guarantee that their case or cases will be immediately drawn to the attention of the Adoption Board and if there are any concerns emerging from an examination of that case that warrants referral to the gardaí, to the General Register Office or any other statutory body that will happen as a matter of priority," he said.

Mr Shannon said he would recommend to the Adoption Board to de-register agencies engaged in wrongdoing.

"We will do what we can do within the powers laid down in the Adoption Acts. We will have much greater enhanced powers under the forthcoming adoption legislation and hopefully we will be in a better position to provide answers.

"The board has at its disposal the power to de-register an adoption society... it would be my recommendation to the board where wrongdoing has been found on the part of an adoption society, that the board... de-register the adoption society," he said.

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Friday, May 21, 2010

The issue of illegal adoptions was raised with Geoffrey Shannon following the Irish Examiner’s investigation into the case of Tressa Reeves, whose son was illegally adopted and falsely registered as the natural child of the adoptive parents. This was facilitated by St Patrick’s Guild adoption agency, which remains fully accredited by the Adoption Board, despite the board being aware of the case since 2001.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Prime Time, chairman of the Adoption Board Geoffrey Shannon gave a personal guarantee that any such cases would be investigated and if necessary referred to the relevant authorities.

"I don’t want to become involved in discussing individual cases, but what I am saying is, if anybody has concerns in relation to their individual case, that I am giving a guarantee that their case or cases will be immediately drawn to the attention of the Adoption Board and if there are any concerns emerging from an examination of that case that warrants referral to the gardaí, to the General Register Office or any other statutory body that will happen as a matter of priority," he said.

Mr Shannon said he would recommend to the Adoption Board to de-register agencies engaged in wrongdoing.

"We will do what we can do within the powers laid down in the Adoption Acts. We will have much greater enhanced powers under the forthcoming adoption legislation and hopefully we will be in a better position to provide answers.

"The board has at its disposal the power to de-register an adoption society... it would be my recommendation to the board where wrongdoing has been found on the part of an adoption society, that the board... de-register the adoption society," he said.

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Friday, May 21, 2010

Organizations: Irish Adoption Board, Ireland, St Patrick´s Guild

Countries: Ireland

Delegatie din Marea Britanie la Consiliul Judetean

Delegatie din Marea Britanie la Consiliul Judetean

          Vineri, 21 mai 2010, Presedintele Consiliului Judetean a primit vizita delegatiei din Marea Britanie care reprezinta Fundatia ARK, unul din principalii finantatori internationali in domeniul protectiei copilului. La intilnire au participat dl Stefan Darabus, director HHC Romania si d-na Maria Griguta, director economic la DPC Maramures.

          Dl Stefan Darabus a prezentat pe scurt activitatea fundatiei si colaborarea cu ARK, care desfasoara de doi ani in Romania proiecte impreuna cu HHC si este o prezenta binecunoscuta in peisajul organizatiilor care lucreaza in actiuni de caritate. Radya Ebrahim si Laura Parker au apreciat colaborarea pe care au avut-o pina acum cu HHC Romania si au exprimat dorinta de a continua la acelasi nivel, bazindu-se pe profesionalismul si experienta fundatiei maramuresene. “Cu toate ca pina acum colaborarea cu HHC a fost una de exceptie, avem nevoie si de un sprijin din partea institutiilor romanesti. Nu putem sa ajutam daca cei care sint adevaratii beneficiari nu se lasa ajutati sau daca ei nu inteleg faptul ca tinerii si copiii institutionalizati au nevoie de alte modele, mult mai apropiate de mediul familial. Este ceea ce propunem noi si ceea ce functioneaza peste tot in lume, iar Maramuresul ar putea devein in scurt timp un model national de inchidere a caselor de copii si de transformare a acestora in case de tip familial”.

          La randul lui, presedintele Consiliului Judetean a mentionat faptul ca acesta este un aspect care il intereseaza in mod special si ca isi va da tot sprijinul pentru ca lucrurile sa mearga pe fagasul normal. “Eu va asigur de faptul ca voi face tot ce tine de mine pentru ca acestor copii sa le fie mai bine; doresc , din tot sufletul, ca ei sa nu mai constituie o problema si ca ei sa nu mai aiba probleme in ceea ce priveste integrarea lor in viata si societate. Va multumesc pentru tot ce faceti pentru noi si va asigur ca, mereu, usa mea va e deschisa, la fel ca si portile maramuresene. Si as vrea sa nu uitati ca in spatele acestor porti sint suflete!”

Biroul de pres?
Cabinet pre?edinte

Organizations: Hope & Homes for Children

Persons: Laura Parker

Scarlett Johansson's Mom Adopts a Baby Girl

May 19, 2010

Scarlett Johansson's mom, Melanie Sloan, has adopted a baby girl from Ethiopia, a source tells UsMagazine.com.Sloan missed her daughter's Iron Man 2 premiere because she was en route to the African country to pick up her daughter, Fenan, who is 19 to 20 months old. (Johansson also has a older brother, Adrian, a twin brother, Hunter, and an older half-brother, Christian, from her father's first marriage.)

Sloan was stranded in Germany for several days while traveling to Ethiopia because of the volcano ash cloud."The volcano put the whole adoption process in jeopardy due to time constraints," a source tells Us. "But it worked out in the end."

A rep for Johansson, 25, had no comment. The actress and husband Ryan Reynolds, 33, may soon be following in Sloan's footsteps.

PHOTOS: Can you believe Scarlett and Ryan's (and other couples') age differences?"I have every intention of adopting at some time," Reynolds -- whose older brother is adopted -- told UK Glamour last summer. "I'm very grateful for having my brother in my life. I couldn't be more pro-adoption. There are plenty of kids in the world that need it."

http://m.usmag.com/v/CelebNews/ScarlettJohanssonsMo/?KSID=25cfd02fa06e5d4896f15ff22766f6c0

Countries: Ethiopia, United States of America