Would it be helpful if adoptive parents and their families and friends contacted UNICEF's US fundraising directors to let them know how they feel about UNICEF's position on intercountry adoption in Guatemala? I'd be happy to post some info to contact UNICEF if those in the know think it would be helpful for these adoptive parents. Let me know whether or not it's a good idea given the political situation.

Lauren, I personally think that educating UNICEF supporters in the US is critical for the long-term viability of intercountry adoption from Guatemala and many other "countries of origin." We would welcome any support or assistance that you could provide - or that anyone is willing to provide. Please email me privately (just click on my name below) and we can organize things off-list, then post it all when we are ready.
Thanks, Maura

So does this mean that things might not be better for the people that have not accepted referrals yet. Man i was so happy yesterday now im doubting.
Lanell

I am new at posting a comment, but I to got very excited when I read the breakthrough the other day, but now my bubble has been bursted. We adopted a beautiful baby girl from Guatemala. We brought her home 11/2002 and she is doing wonderfully. We are so thrilled with her that we wanted to adopt another baby girl. We got ourselves financially ready and then boom, the terrible news about the Hague Treaty. We were devastated. I just don't understand why the Guatemalan government is doing this. Does Unicef/PGN or whoever feel like they aren't getting a piece of the pie. Well to us, why not increase the foreign fee another $2,000 or $4,000 and let that share go directly to the government and keep things the way they've been. That way, everybody gets a piece of the pie. Because as we know, unfortunately, this is a money making business. Not for us adoptive parents, but for everyone else. Everyone who wants to adopt, I guarantee, would accept this and still adopt. We as adoptive parents feel differently about the money. We aren't buying something, we're investing in the future of a child that normally would not have one. We're extending ourselves to a child that deserves more in life, even more then what we had. I am unable to conceive as thousands are, and I can't imagine going through life without a child. We have been blessed with a miracle that will forever change our lives. People say how lucky our daughter is to have us, but we fee we are the lucky ones. To be given this opportunity, we are forever thankful. Why take that away from families that haven't even been given the opportunity yet. I hope to God Guatemala comes to their senses and sees what a good thing they were doing, whether it is for money or not. They had the best program and they've ruined a wonderful thing.

My husband and I adopted our son from Guatemala in 1999. We were in the process to bring another child home with all this chaos hit. My husband works in the broadcast media industy and we've already contacted our sources in New York about getting national publicity about this whole situation, especially UNICEF. We believe the general public has a right, and should, know about their stance considering many make financial contributions to that organization. We've made the necessary calls and are waiting to hear back. We should know more this week. Sit tight.......our goal is to get this whole story out to the general publiwe hope to get this out to the public.

My husband and I have been in the process of adopting a baby girl from Guatemala since November. We have met her; she's almost ten months old. We are concerned that all the talk seems to be about the govt dealing with the POST march 5th cases. We are worried that cases like ours will be neglected. Does anyone have any insights into situations like ours?

My husband & I are currently in the process of adopting a baby girl from Guatemala. We are a post-March 5th case and have everything completed except DNA & final PGN approval. According to our agency the US Embassy isn't giving any further DNA authorizations at this time. Does the new ruling on 8/14 change this? Also, our attorney was apparently not one of the 97 granted an Amparo; our agency said she has filed for one independently. Does the 8/14 ruling mean that the Amparo isn't needed? I'd really appreciate any answers you could offer. I try to get information from our agency and don't get me wrong they've been really great but they just kind of try to smooth things over by telling me our attorney is doing all that she can but we would really like some more details on the process. Thank goodness for this website; it has been unbelievably helpful. Thanks - Soon to be mother of Tressa Anne

just a question...
once again i cant get on adoptionforums.com
i am getting some info that says down load??
is anyone else getting this ??
are we supposed to hit download ??

We are in the same situation that Audrey Ruth is in we have had our referral since Dec. 2002. And our case is complete except the final approval of the PGN. What is being done to get our cases through? Our cases are on hold also, has anyone gotten to take thier children home since May? Us pre-March adoptive parents need help also to get our children home soon.

We are in the same situation as Leslie and Audrey. We've had our referral since October 2002. Although we knew going into the process that there is always some risk involved in international adoptions, we were told we would not be impacted by the Hague. Frankly we are in no better shape than those post-March 5th, maybe even worse. It seems all the advocacy is focused on post-March 5th cases. I understand why, however, is there anything that can be done for pre-March 5th cases?

To Joanne, Leslie, Audrey, and other pre 3/5 folk,

It may appear as though all the advocacy efforts were placed on the transition cases but this is not the case. We have called for the DOS to work with the Guatemalan authorities to process "all pending cases without delay." In fact, as much as possible the time distinctions were avoided. With the Hague being out of the picture, there are no longer pre and post 3/5 cases. But because those of us who were transition cases were stuck in a system without even rules on what to do, it may have seemed as though that was the emphasis. The reality on pre 3/5 was that all we could say is that they are slackers.

So what can be done for you? Have your lawyers filed amparos? Legally the PGN only has three days to issue judgements. Have you written to and met with your elected representatives? At this point it is not clear what will happen next. Hopefully the PGN will start moving.

Also, to answer Leslie's question, pre 3/5 cases have been exiting PGN since the Hague fiasco began. My understanding is just that they have been very slow.