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THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release October 6, 2000
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
Today I have signed into law H.R. 2909, the "Intercountry Adoption Act of
2000." This Act will implement the Hague Convention on Protection of
Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. I am
pleased that the Senate gave its advice and consent to ratification
of the Convention on September 20, 2000.
The United States and 65 other countries came together to negotiate
the Convention in response to abuses in the intercountry adoption
process, including illegal child trafficking. By setting uniform
standards, the Convention better protects the rights and interests
of children, birth parents, and adoptive parents involved in
intercountry adoption.
In its preamble, the Convention recognizes that children should grow
up in a family environment and that properly safeguarded
intercountry adoption offers the advantage of a permanent family
to children who cannot readily be placed with a suitable family in
their country of origin. The United States actively participated in
the preparation and negotiation of this Convention, with the
guidance and participation of representa-tives of U.S. adoption
and family law interests. Since the United States signed the Convention
in 1994, several ratifying countries have expressed the view that they
would prefer that their children emigrate only to countries that have
agreed to comply with the Hague Conventions safeguards and procedures.
As a result, the U.S. adoption community has supported U.S. implementing"
legislation. This bill will ensure the full and uniform implementation
of the Convention throughout the United States.
Adoption is an emotional event. With the complexities of
international law and procedures, these cases are often overwhelming
for the families involved. The Hague Convention and the implementing
legislation will provide protections for children and parents engaged
in intercountry adoption and will help ensure a standard of service
that all families deserve.
WILLIAM J. CLINTON
THE WHITE HOUSE,
October 6, 2000.
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