U.S. Ratification of the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption

Today, the United States deposited its instrument of ratification for the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. (New York Times story here; NPR story here.) President Bush signed the instrument of ratification on November 16. The Senate had provided its advice and consent to ratification on September 20, 2000. The Convention is implemented by the Intercountry Adoption Act and Department of State and Department of Homeland Security regulations. Implementation also required extensive work with state officials, as noted by the State Department spokesperson at today's press briefing. (For more complete background, see the Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs website.) According to the State Department, "The Convention establishes international norms and procedures for intercountry adoption cases with other Hague Convention members. It mandates safeguards to protect the interests of children, birth parents, and adoptive parents. It also provides that member nations recognize adoptions that take place within other Hague Convention countries." The Convention will go into force for the United States on April 1, 2008.