NYHOMESTUDY BLOG

October 8, 2007

Through direct dialogue with UNICEF headquarters in New York, Joint Council confirms that on Friday October 5 2007 UNICEF updated its stated position on intercountry adoption to reference the best interest of the child during a country’s transition to full implementation of the Hague Convention.

Specifically UNICEF now states, “UNICEF urges national authorities to ensure that, during the transition to full implementation of the Hague Convention, the best interests of each individual child are protected.” The revised version of UNICEF’s position on intercountry adoption can be found in its entirety at http://www.unicef.org/media/media_41118.html .

It should be noted that, the revised statement is meant as a global position statement and can be utilized in any country transitioning to full Hague implementation.

Guatemala - Department of State, Hague Permanent Bureau & UNICEF Guatemala

Joint Council can confirm an amendment to Bill # 3217, permitting the continuation of adoptions initiated under the current notorial and judicial laws, has been approved by the Children’s Committee and will be reviewed and voted on by Congress. It is also our understanding that the U.S. Department of State and Hague Permanent Bureau are advocating for the inclusion of this amendment in the final version of the law. It is also our understanding that based on the inclusion of transition cases into their intercountry adoption statement and direct communications, UNICEF is in support of this amendment.

Transition Amendment

Following is the text (and English translation) of the amendment to Article
52 of bill 3217 which deals with the completion of transition cases.

Original Text

Congreso de la Republica Guatemala C.A.

Enmienda por sustitución total

Al Articulo

Los abajo firmantes proponemos la siguiente enmienda por sustitución total al articulo 52 del proyecto de decreto que dispone aprobar ley de adopciones para que quede redactado así.

“Articulo 52. Adopciones en trámite. Todos los procedimientos notariales y judiciales de adopción que se encuentren en trámite al momento de la vigencia de la presente ley deben ser registrados ante la autoridad central en un plazo no mayor de treinta días, para los electos del seguimiento del caso y continuación del trámite, de conformidad con la ley vigente al tiempo de su iniciación.

Translation

Disclaimer: This translation is provided as a courtesy only. Joint Council retains no responsibility for the accuracy of the translation nor for the interpretation of the original

Spanish text.

Congress of the Republic of Guatemala

It amends, by substitution, the total article

The Article

The signatories below propose to amend, by total substitution, Article 52 of the project which by decree arranges to approve the law dealing with adoptions in process.

Article 52. Adoptions in Process. All notorial and judicial procedures related to an adoption that are in effect at the moment the present law goes into effect should be registered before the central authority in a not greater time limit than thirty days, for the tracking of the case and the continuation of the adoption according to the governing law at the time of its inception.

This amendment, while a major step towards ensuring the completion of adoptions already in process, has not been passed by the Guatemalan Congress. We expect a vote on this and all other amendments in early November 2007.