Ortega Law = Bad News...

The Ortega Law was read for the 3rd time in the Guatemalan Congress today and was passed. Next Tuesday, 10/9, amendments to the law will be read and approved or denied and all details of the law will be established i.e. when it will become effective, if in-process cases will be grandfathered in, etc.

Hannah Wallace of Focus on Adoption (FOA) has released this statement today...

"The JCICS initiative called for actions next week. Next week is TOO
LATE. Our information about the Ortega Law in Congress was
incomplete and we believed that the Adoption Law would not be voted
on before the run off on November 4. Now there are TWO THINGS which
must be done immediately:

ALL adoptive families in process and their supporters must be
notified to contact their congressional representatives on Thursday
and Friday (by email, faxed letters and telephone calls) and ask them
to urge the Department of State to assure that a grandfather clause
is in place which allows every adoption to be completed under the law
it started under.

At the same time, Senators and Congressional Reps should be aware
that our Department of State has urged the Guatemalan Congress to
pass an adoption law which offers no plan for (1)funding adequately
(2) child care (3) services to pregnant women and vulnerable
children and that the Guatemalan Congress will be discussing
amendments on Tuesday Oct.9 -- the DOS should encourage - with the
same energy with which they encouraged the passage of this law --
amendments which include a realistic funding plan, child care plan,
and prenatal, natal and postnatal services as well as a realistic way
for existing child care facilities to be able to care for the
children in their care (funding).

Families should call and fax the Department of State directly to urge
support for amendments which could make this law more functional, as
well as advocate for a grandfather clause and a delayed date for the
law taking effect, so that fewer children will be at risk.

There are many letters, petitions, and links to Congress and the DOS
on Guatemala Adoption Information and News Guatemala Adoption Information and News (under Campaign Clearinghouse)

Please post this on all listserves.

Tomorrow, we'll provide a list of Guatemalan Congressmen and email
addresses to contact.

Hannah Wallace, FOA."