United States ratifies Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption.

• Author: Crook, John R.

In December 2007, the United States ratified the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption, which was negotiated under the aegis of the Hague Conference on Private International Law. (1) The United States signed the Convention in 1994, but many years were required to bring about Senate advice and consent, passage of implementing legislation, and adoption of implementing arrangements. (2) Following is a Department of State media note explaining the Convention and the U.S. actions involved in its implementation.

On November 16, President Bush signed the United States' Instrument of Ratification for the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption, authorizing the Department of State to deposit it with designated authorities in the Netherlands. This is the final procedural step for the United States to become a full member of the Hague Convention. Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Maura Harty will formally deposit this instrument in The Hague on December 12. The Department expects the Hague Convention to go into effect in the United States on April 1, 2008.

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 deposit of the instrument completes a process begun in 1994, when the United States signed the Convention after participating actively in its negotiation and adoption. In 2000, the Senate consented to ratification and Congress passed implementing legislation, the Intercountry Adoption Act (IAA).

The Department of State, with the Department of Homeland Security, developed the...