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Embassies push for transparency in adoptions
KIRAN CHAPAGAIN
KATHMANDU, Dec 7: Embassies of 12 countries entertaining inter-country adoptions from Nepal have jointly asked the government to ensure transparency and meet international standards while processing inter-country adoption cases.
The embassies passed their concerns in the form of a note verbale (a diplomatic memorandum) to the government via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on November 24 after they found that the "inter-country adoptions from Nepal were not meeting international standards and practices determined by the Hague Convention". The convention says that adoption should take place in the best interest of the children.
"The group offers its support and urges the Government of Nepal to strengthen the beneficial cooperation with the Hague Conference [Hague Convention], e.g. to ensure that internationally recognized standards and practices," reads the note verbale possessed by myrepublica.com from its sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Submitted by the German Embassy on behalf of the countries on inter-country adoption, the note verbale was initially issued by Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Later, France, Italy and Spain also signed on it. Australia, Canada and the US have also supported it.
A diplomatic source told myrepublica.com that the embassies are particularly concerned over lack of a central authority with responsibility to ensure that inter-country adoptions met international standards and the lack of laws on a par with the convention.
"We also agree [with the countries] that the inter-country adoptions are not taking place as per the international standards. There should be a central authority to see the inter-country adoption," said advocate Upendra Keshari Neupane, who is also an executive committee member of Child NGO Federation.
The embassies have also asked the government to make public the number of adoptable children, their age and sex and the organizations they are staying in. They have also sought information on the status of adoptable children -- voluntarily waived or orphans.
The countries entertaining inter-country adoption from Nepal, diplomatic sources said, are concerned over the rise in the number of adoptable children after the resumption of the inter-country adoption in 2009.
"The number of adoptable children dropped when adoption was suspended in 2007. But we have noticed a sudden rise in the number of such children in child homes and orphanages after the inter-country adoption was resumed in January 2009. How such children´s homes and orphanages see decrease in the number of children when the adoption was stopped and rise when the adoption was resumed?" the source asked.
The countries are also concerned over the representation of the Child NGO Federation in the Recommendation, Investigation and Monitoring Committee at the Ministry of Social Affairs that is responsible for investigating the facts about any children before granting approval for adoption.
"International standards require that there should be no representation of a federation of child NGO that also represents children´s homes and orphanages involved in inter-country adoption," said another diplomatic source.
But advocate Neupane, who represents the federation in the committee, said, "Only the individual who is not involved in inter-country adoption is sent to represent the Child NGO Federation in the committee."
In the note verbale, the embassies have also questioned the existence of two different committees to match a foreign family for any adoptable child. Advocate Neupane agreed that the works of the matching committee have not been transparent.
Similarly, the countries are also doubtful that the paper works on the situation of adoptable children might be fake. They have also expressed concern over deprival of foster care, kinship and domestic adoption to children at child homes and orphanages. "To encourage domestic adoption, the existing laws should be amended," said Neupane, who is also the President of Democratic Lawyers´ Association.
Original published at MyRepublica.com
Posted: December 20th, 2009
Information on adoption processing from Nepal
Due to changes in the Nepal government, there will be a delay in processing adoption from Nepal for the time being.
Posted: May 11th, 2009
Are you a Chinese adoptee, adopted between the years of 1991-95? Considering a homeland trip back to China?
(November 21, 2008). Picture This Productions, an award winning, Montreal-based film production company is currently looking for potential participants to be a part of a Canadian-based television documentary. They are looking to follow a few young women on their first journey back to China since being adopted, documenting the experiences along the way. This film is slated to be shot in 2009-2010, taking place both in Canada, as well as on the road in China.
To learn more about Picture This Productions, please visit the following website: www.picturethis.ca.
To learn more about becoming part of this exciting new documentary, please contact Marc Griebel: marc@picturethis.ca or 514.484.1145.
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RVM Charity Pledge Program for CHOICES Adoption
We need your help! CHOICES Adoption has been chosen as a recognized charity for the Royal Victoria Marathon (RVM) Charity Pledge Program. Our goal is to raise $15,000 in support of children who need permanent families and supporting adoptive families.
All proceeds from the Royal Victoria Marathon will go to Teen Adoption across BC and the Humanitarian Aid Fund with a focus on assisting orphanages in Nepal.
Find out how you can help CHOICES
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CHOICES Fall 2008 Newsletter Available 
Issue 13 of the CHOICES newsletter is now available for download.
Posted: December 9th, 2008
Lifting of Nepal child adoption ban
Nepal has lifted a ban on adoption to countries it deems acceptable. [AFP]
Nepal's Government says it will allow 58 foreign agencies to process requests by families wishing to adopt children from the Himalayan nation, ending months of uncertainty.
Nepal put on hold adoption of its children last year after news of widespread corruption and criticism that some children were being sold off, leaving hundreds of families in confusion.
Prakash Kumar Adhikari, a senior official in the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare says foreign agencies could work as "intermediaries" between potential adopting families in their respective countries and the Nepali authorities.
He says the Government will accept requests through firms from Germany, France, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Norway, the United States and Canada for adoption of Nepali children.
"These countries have a good social security system, including education and health care," he said.
"We'll soon start accepting applications from prospective families for adoption through the accredited agencies."
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and a Swiss child relief agency Terre des hommes said in a report in August that the sale, abduction and trafficking of children was common and Nepal should press for adoption by local families.
Posted: November 1st, 2008
Thank you to BC Ferries Media Golf Charity
CHOICES Adoption & Counselling is pleased to have received a generous donation from the BC Ferries Media Golf Charity. CHOICES and our adoptive parents who coordinate the Humanitarian Aid Fund would like to thank Les Layne and Keith Baldry for their kind donation. Thank you to all of you for your hard work and dedication. Donations are greatly needed for the many children in our orphanages who require social, medical and educational resources while they wait for families.
If you are interested in donating to CHOICES please contact Holly at 1 888 479 9811.
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CHOICES Russian Reaccreditation
After a long wait, CHOICES is very pleased to announce that we have been successfully re-accredited by the Ministry of Education and Science in the Russian Federation! Thank you to everyone for your patience and understanding during this period of re-accreditation.
For more information on adopting from Russia, please contact Rachel Warren at CHOICES.
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Kids for Kids Art Fundraiser for CHOICES
Visit the Kids for Kids Art Fundraiser for CHOICES site.
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Bill C-37
On 10 December 2007, the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, tabled Bill C-37, an Act to amend the Citizenship Act.
This Bill proposes a broad and generous legislative solution to address outdated provisions of the existing and former act. It also preserves the value of citizenship by limiting citizenship by descent to first generations born abroad to a Canadian parent.
For more information on this Bill, please consult the following links:
Bill C-37
News Release
Backgrounder [1]
Backgrounder [2]
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CHOICES launches India mini site
CHOICES is proud to announce the launch of its new India mini site.
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