First, I need to give credit to my good friend and fellow PAP (prospective adoptive parent) And Mama Pajamma Party buddy Suzanne for the framework and organization of this post. Suzanne you may recognize a few familiar words and sentences. Thanks! It is hard to organize all this and make it comprehensible when I am feeling so tired of it all.
We did not get many answers from our conference on Wed. the 15th. Mainly because there aren't any yet. The US State Department and the US Embassy in Kyrgyzstan continue to work toward getting the 65 children and their waiting families united. They are currently working at educating the Kyrgyz officials and citizens about who we are and why it is we want to adopt these children. Adoption is not a common practice within Kyrgyzstan and therefor is not understood. What is understood is child slavery. The US Embassy is working through the Kyrgyz media, via interviews and televised debates and seem to be making some progress in getting across the reality that these children are going to warm loving families.
Meanwhile, investigations of 9 adoption cases continues. We have been assured that the corruption being alleged does not have to do with any children being wrongfully removed from their families. Instead the allegations involve incomplete documentation and a claim that some Kyrgyz citizens have been denied the opportunity to adopt. Those responsible are at the orphanage, MOE or judicial levels - not at the adoption agency level.
It appears that Parliament is recommending that Kyrgyzstan sign the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption. In which case international adoption will most likely remain closed on Kyrgyzstan for quite a while. We have seen in other countries including our own that it takes a VERY long time and lots of resources to actually implement the Hague. However, the US Embassy continues to lobby for our cases to be grandfathered in under the laws that existed at the time we accepted our referrals. JCICS has initiated a second letter writing campaign to help sway Kyrgyz officials in that direction. The first campaign consisted of letters written by families who have completed adoptions of Kyrgyz children. This second campaign will consist of letters written by the 65 waiting families, on behalf of the children who are waiting for us. This was a letter in which we had to write our "story" in 150 words or less. Needless to say it took me half the day.
So, to sum it up the US Embassy and JCICS are working on it and slowly progress is being made toward a better view of international adoption. This hopefully will lead to some sort of decision to let the 65 children go to the families waiting for them. In the meantime Dimitri is getting older quickly. He will be 2 years old in two weeks and to think he was 9 months when we got his information. What a long and bumpy road!
Friday, April 24, 2009
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Join Council's Update and More
It is Joint Council's understanding that Nikolai Bailo presented the findings of the parliamentarian commission investigating intercountry adoption and accession to the Hague Convention to three parliamentary committees today April 8, 2009. It's our understanding that the remarks were quite balanced and included strong statements against corruption and child trafficking. He urged the prosecution of government officials and orphanage directors involved in child trafficking.Further, Joint Council understands that Vice-Premier Uktomkhan Abdullaeva informed committee members that according to reports and photos provided to her (referencing the Kyrgyz Adoptee Stories collected by Joint Council and distributed throughout the Kyrgyz Government) that children adopted by U.S. citizens were in the care of safe, permanent and loving families. Further she urged the tracking of post-adoption reports. Joint Council urges all adoptive families and adoption service providers to ensure all post-adoption reports are filed.
It is Joint Council's understanding that the committee will recommend to the parliament the ratification of the Hague Convention. The issues of intercountry adoption, the Hague Convention and the 65 pending cases should be discussed in the coming week. The fate of the 65 children whose cases are currently pending is still unknown.
Finally, after Joint Council's continued advocacy with the U.S. Dept of State, Office of Children's Issues it is our understanding that there will be a conference call for key stakeholders - including the 65 adoptive families, adoption service providers and Joint Council - on Wednesday, April 15, 2009. The Office of Children's Issues will be hosting the call and contacting individuals directly in the coming days.Joint Council will continue to advocate for the children of Kyrgyzstan and the potential adoptive families who wish to adopt them. We will continue to monitor the situation and update stakeholders, both through email updates and updates to our website, as needed.
Also of note, due to economic hardships Joint Council's offices are currently drastically understaffed and we respectfully request that potential adoptive families understand that we may be unable to answer individual questions and comments. However, as noted above, as soon as further information is available we will update all stakeholders via email and our website.
Thank you!
Joint Council
News Article that is actually somewhat positive.
At least 225 children of Kyrgyzstan adopted by foreigners within past 2 years
08/04-2009 15:06, Bishkek – News Agency “24.kg”, By Nargiza YULDASHEVA
At least 225 children of Kyrgyzstan were adopted by foreigners within the past two years, the First Vice Prime Minister Uktomhan Abdullaeva said at the joint session of the three parliamentary committees on Wednesday.Most of these children (164) were adopted by the United States citizens, then goes Sweden (21), Israel (20), the Southern African Republic (5), Italy (1) and Germany (1).Most often foreigners adopt special needs children, while Kyrgyz citizens for certain reasons never apply for adoption of children like that.“We have information about children adopted to U.S. or Canadian families. They are safe and sound,” Abdullaeva said when asked about cases of deaths or mistreat of Kyrgyz children.Right now we are planning to elaborate a data base of all adopted children and in the future to establish a child adoption institution.
URL: http://eng.24.kg/politic/2009/04/08/7634.html
So all in all this seems to be positive. However There is the little issue below. Note the bold type.
According to recent press reporting, the Kyrgyz government has opened nine criminal cases, three involving U.S. adoptions that have been completed and the children are now living in the United States. In general in Kyrgyz criminal matters, the prosecutor or police collect evidence and, if appropriate, refer the matter to the courts, who then decide to proceed with prosecution or dismiss the allegations. The Embassy is aware that local adoption facilitators have been questioned, but It is unclear at this time if the courts have made any decisions about prosecution or are waiting for further investigations to be completed.
The U.S. Embassy has not received an official notification or request from the Kyrgyz government regarding these investigations. Unofficial contacts have indicated to the Embassy that in their judgment it is unlikely that any adoptions will receive a final approval until these criminal investigations have been completed and a decision has been made regarding possible prosecution. The Embassy will attempt to get official confirmation.
It is Joint Council's understanding that the committee will recommend to the parliament the ratification of the Hague Convention. The issues of intercountry adoption, the Hague Convention and the 65 pending cases should be discussed in the coming week. The fate of the 65 children whose cases are currently pending is still unknown.
Finally, after Joint Council's continued advocacy with the U.S. Dept of State, Office of Children's Issues it is our understanding that there will be a conference call for key stakeholders - including the 65 adoptive families, adoption service providers and Joint Council - on Wednesday, April 15, 2009. The Office of Children's Issues will be hosting the call and contacting individuals directly in the coming days.Joint Council will continue to advocate for the children of Kyrgyzstan and the potential adoptive families who wish to adopt them. We will continue to monitor the situation and update stakeholders, both through email updates and updates to our website, as needed.
Also of note, due to economic hardships Joint Council's offices are currently drastically understaffed and we respectfully request that potential adoptive families understand that we may be unable to answer individual questions and comments. However, as noted above, as soon as further information is available we will update all stakeholders via email and our website.
Thank you!
Joint Council
News Article that is actually somewhat positive.
At least 225 children of Kyrgyzstan adopted by foreigners within past 2 years
08/04-2009 15:06, Bishkek – News Agency “24.kg”, By Nargiza YULDASHEVA
At least 225 children of Kyrgyzstan were adopted by foreigners within the past two years, the First Vice Prime Minister Uktomhan Abdullaeva said at the joint session of the three parliamentary committees on Wednesday.Most of these children (164) were adopted by the United States citizens, then goes Sweden (21), Israel (20), the Southern African Republic (5), Italy (1) and Germany (1).Most often foreigners adopt special needs children, while Kyrgyz citizens for certain reasons never apply for adoption of children like that.“We have information about children adopted to U.S. or Canadian families. They are safe and sound,” Abdullaeva said when asked about cases of deaths or mistreat of Kyrgyz children.Right now we are planning to elaborate a data base of all adopted children and in the future to establish a child adoption institution.
URL: http://eng.24.kg/politic/2009/04/08/7634.html
So all in all this seems to be positive. However There is the little issue below. Note the bold type.
According to recent press reporting, the Kyrgyz government has opened nine criminal cases, three involving U.S. adoptions that have been completed and the children are now living in the United States. In general in Kyrgyz criminal matters, the prosecutor or police collect evidence and, if appropriate, refer the matter to the courts, who then decide to proceed with prosecution or dismiss the allegations. The Embassy is aware that local adoption facilitators have been questioned, but It is unclear at this time if the courts have made any decisions about prosecution or are waiting for further investigations to be completed.
The U.S. Embassy has not received an official notification or request from the Kyrgyz government regarding these investigations. Unofficial contacts have indicated to the Embassy that in their judgment it is unlikely that any adoptions will receive a final approval until these criminal investigations have been completed and a decision has been made regarding possible prosecution. The Embassy will attempt to get official confirmation.
I am beginning to believe that adoption may continue in Kyrgyzstan but there are still so many road blocks to get around. The investigation of cases, adopting the Hague agreement and then there is an issue of the presidential election in Kyrgyzstan in June. That possibly could mean back to step one with all new players. My point is not that I don't want the current president to be replaced. It is more that I hope and pray we can get this taken care of before it all happens!
Stay tuned maybe we will learn more in the conference call on Wednesday. Maybe the glass will come up half full
Saturday, April 4, 2009
The Glass Half Full
I was going through some old E-mail posts from last week and found another interpretation of the response I included in my last post. It comes from one of the adoption coordinators (not ours).
I think it significant that the Consular indicates "certainly not this week". I would hear this as they think this could happen soon but again no one knows at this time.
From my half empty glass I would never have viewed it this way, as you can tell.
Hope he is right!!!!!!
I think it significant that the Consular indicates "certainly not this week". I would hear this as they think this could happen soon but again no one knows at this time.
From my half empty glass I would never have viewed it this way, as you can tell.
Hope he is right!!!!!!
Update
Well some may remember that the new Adoption Commision in Kyrgyzstan was suppose to have finished it's investigation into International Adoption and made reccomendations to Parliment on March 20th. Well that date came and passed. Not a word (no surprise there). Well, I wrote a letter to those advocating for the 65 families waiting and below is the response.
As you may know the Parliament convened a special adoption commission to investigate the cases. Parliament was recessed on/about March 20th and is scheduled to reconvene today, April 1st. Now the Parliament should discuss findings of this commission among 3 committees: Safety and Security, Migration and Children’s issues. After that the findings and recommendations will be discussed by the whole chamber and the Parliament will elaborate recommendations to the Government. According to our contacts, the adoption commission has changed its originally negative attitude, its sounds much more benevolent now. Its prediction is that eventually everything will be fine – however it is hard to predict when, certainly not this week.
Government in its own turn is waiting for completion of Parliament’s work on adoptions. According to information we are getting now, it is only after the Parliament discloses its opinion that the Government will report to it. At the same time the Government is revising adoption regulations and working out provisional measures for 65 pipeline families.
It appears to be a positive response. However, it is the "hard to predict when" part that concerns me. We have seen how time and time again "attitudes" change in a whim. Time is not our friend in this case for many reasons. Furthermore the last sentence is confusing with regard to how the "pipeline families" will be handled. That's us, a pipeline family. Don't let the name confuse you. It makes it seem as if we are on some fast track or something. Yeah just shoot that baby right on over through the pipeline...... Yeah right.
Anyway, when clarity was requested by my good friend Suzanne this was the response.
The Parliament is defining the Kyrgyzstan's position to international adoptions in general. It will come up with the recommendations to the Government to approve certain legislation and set up proper mechanisms for the future.What government is doing is an effort to speed up adoption process for pipeline families by drafting some interim measures. Both Ambassador Gfoeller and Assistant Secretary Jacobs have insisted upon when meeting with the Kyrgyz government is that any new requirements cannot be applied to those already waiting such as yourself. However until this process is complete, the Kyrgyz government is not processing ANY adoptions.
Even scarier!!!!! Complete??????? How do you know when an undefined process is complete???
We're asking. Stay tuned. I just what to shake the heck out of someone, or more, but I won't go there.
As you may know the Parliament convened a special adoption commission to investigate the cases. Parliament was recessed on/about March 20th and is scheduled to reconvene today, April 1st. Now the Parliament should discuss findings of this commission among 3 committees: Safety and Security, Migration and Children’s issues. After that the findings and recommendations will be discussed by the whole chamber and the Parliament will elaborate recommendations to the Government. According to our contacts, the adoption commission has changed its originally negative attitude, its sounds much more benevolent now. Its prediction is that eventually everything will be fine – however it is hard to predict when, certainly not this week.
Government in its own turn is waiting for completion of Parliament’s work on adoptions. According to information we are getting now, it is only after the Parliament discloses its opinion that the Government will report to it. At the same time the Government is revising adoption regulations and working out provisional measures for 65 pipeline families.
It appears to be a positive response. However, it is the "hard to predict when" part that concerns me. We have seen how time and time again "attitudes" change in a whim. Time is not our friend in this case for many reasons. Furthermore the last sentence is confusing with regard to how the "pipeline families" will be handled. That's us, a pipeline family. Don't let the name confuse you. It makes it seem as if we are on some fast track or something. Yeah just shoot that baby right on over through the pipeline...... Yeah right.
Anyway, when clarity was requested by my good friend Suzanne this was the response.
The Parliament is defining the Kyrgyzstan's position to international adoptions in general. It will come up with the recommendations to the Government to approve certain legislation and set up proper mechanisms for the future.What government is doing is an effort to speed up adoption process for pipeline families by drafting some interim measures. Both Ambassador Gfoeller and Assistant Secretary Jacobs have insisted upon when meeting with the Kyrgyz government is that any new requirements cannot be applied to those already waiting such as yourself. However until this process is complete, the Kyrgyz government is not processing ANY adoptions.
Even scarier!!!!! Complete??????? How do you know when an undefined process is complete???
We're asking. Stay tuned. I just what to shake the heck out of someone, or more, but I won't go there.
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