More HOPE...

A little more good news today...I'll take it! JCICS has updated their Guatemala 5000 page and states that UNICEF in NY has revised their former statement and is now saying "UNICEF urges national authorities to ensure that, during the transition to full implementation of the Hague Convention, the best interests of each individual child are protected.” Now, this isn't a full on support for in process cases...the statement is still a little weak. JCICS still wants them to come out and say clear & concise that they support in process adoptions being able to complete under the old laws. That said, JCICS has revised their "Call to Action"...

It is the understanding of Joint Council that the U.S. Department of State, Hague Permanent Bureau and UNICEF-Guatemala now support the amendment to Bill # 3217, which addresses the issue of adoptions in process. As a result, we are recommending that your calls, emails and faxes be targeted to two primary entities; the United States Congress and UNICEF Headquarters in New York.

CONTACT INFO:
Call or fax UNICEF Headquarters
·Ask to speak with Ann Veneman, Executive Director
·Ann's email is aveneman@unicef.org
·Their number is 212-326-7000
·Their fax number is 212-326-7758

US Senators
House of Reps

EDITED TO ADD: When asking your Senators & Congressmen to sign the letters to President Berger and UNICEF-NY, make sure they have the letters. If they do not know how to sign these letters they can call the CCAI (Congressional Coalition of Adoption Institute) at 202-544-8500!!!

JCICS has also reported today that "...an amendment to Bill # 3217, permitting the continuation of adoptions initiated under the current notorial and judicial laws, has been approved by the Children's Committee in Guatemala and will be reviewed and voted on by the Guatemalan Congress. It is our understanding that the U.S. Department of State and Hague Permanent Bureau are advocating for the inclusion of this amendment in the final version of the law." Here is the English translation of the amendment...

Congress of the Republic of Guatemala
It amends, by substitution, the total article
The Article

The signatories below propose to amend, by total substitution, Article 52 of the project which by decree arranges to approve the law dealing with adoptions in process.

Article 52. Adoptions in Process. All notorial and judicial procedures related to an adoption that are in effect at the moment the present law goes into effect should be registered before the central authority in a not greater time limit than thirty days, for the tracking of the case and the continuation of the adoption according to the governing law at the time of its inception

So all in all, a good day for adoptions in process!!
Jen :]