Online update on concerns around promoting adoption in an emergency context.

"The desire of the Haitian people, to the extent that this can be done, is for the children to be cared for in Haiti…That is their preference"

Member agencies of the Disasters Emergency Committee are calling for international focus to remain on reuniting children who have lost their families during the earthquake in Haiti rather than adopting them out of the country.

In this Information Note, the Hague Convention urges that the focus in emergencies should first be on child protection, rather than adoption. In the spirit of this Recommendation, it is clear that in a disaster situation, like that brought about by the earthquake, efforts to reunite a displaced child with his or her parents or family members must take priority. Premature and unregulated attempts to organise the adoption of such a child abroad should be avoided.

UNICEF, together with WHO, UNAIDS, UNFPA and WFP, invites you to the Mexico 2008 AIDS satellite session on "Keeping the promise: Unite for Children. Unite against AIDS". The session will take place on Monday, 4 August, from 6:30PM to 8:30PM in the Banamex Conference Center, Session Room 4.

The CWLA National Adoption and Foster Care Training Conference is scheduled for December 10-12, 2007, in New Orleans, Louisiana. The conference will feature workshops and information on all facets of adoption and foster care.

A personal story about adopting a child from Guatemala.

The United States expects to endorse the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption, a multilateral treaty intended to protect children by standardizing international adoption procedures, later this year. Guatemalan Congress recently failed to pass a bill recongizing Guatemala's endorsment of the Hague Convention in 2003. Once the United States enforces the Hague Convention (anticipated early 2008), it will refuse permission to adopt Guatemalan children until Guatemala implements the treaty as well.

Explores intercountry adoption from the perspective of the adoptees. Focuses on the experience of Korean adoptees in the United States.

CRS/Haiti is seeking a Start-up Specialist to ensure timely and quality program design and startup of the 4Children program, in close collaboration with the Head of Health, Health and Child Wellbeing Program/Project Managers, 4Children implementing consortium partners, 4Children HQ staff and other CRS staff and partners.