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.

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