{Posted on behalf of Susana Luarca, ADA}
Dear Friends,
ADA organized a demonstration against the proposal of adoption law. About 200 people came, and with signs expressing their rejection towards the law, marched from the gathering place to the Congress, where they were interviewed by the local press and had the opportunity to speak to several Congressmen and women, about the detrimental effects of the proposal. Never, in the history of adoptions in Guatemala, something like that happened before, that people were openly defending adoptions, because UNICEF has maligned adoptions so much, that to make adoptions possible is regarded by those who don't know better, as something "shameful".
The rise of the price of the gas has affected the economy of everybody in Guatemala, so yesterday took place a big demonstration against the high prices and the low salaries, by people who demanded a rise in their salaries. President Berger rejected their petitions. Today, before the Congress had the chance to hear the second reading of the proposal of adoptions law, the FRG presented a motion to discuss a rise in the salaries, to make up for the rise in the prices of many basic things. That brought a lot of discussions and prevented the reading of the proposal of adoptions law. Meanwhile, the people of ADA had the chance to talk to more congressmen and to explain to them that such proposal was facing a lot of opposition. Some of them expressed their concern and agreed that Guatemala cannot provide at this time, the means to properly educate and keep out of the influence of the gangs, the children who do not have families who love them and care for them. Yesterday, at one center of detention for youths who have committed felonies, were killed ten of them and injured a lot of the inmates, as a result of the attack of one of the gangs, who shot the teenagers, for unknown reasons. The congressmen had to admit that stopping adoptions would increase the number of the children who would become delinquents and the country does not have the means to neither protect the children, nor the society.
The second hearing will have to be rescheduled, and when it does, ADA will be there, with more people. I asked today one of the caregivers of an hogar: "How many people could you bring to a demonstration against the proposal of adoptions law?" She answered: "Tomorrow, I could bring fifteen, but if I would have more time to send messages, I could bring a lot more." If everybody could do the same, the Congress would see that adoptions is a matter that does not only affect a "small group of lawyers", but it is something that affects all the country and that it would be wrong to rule against something that so many people are willing to protect. As soon as we know when the second reading will take place, we will post it, so you can tell everybody that you know in Guatemala, to help with the demonstration.
For those of you who are gathering your paperwork and still do not have a referral, do not worry. Adoptions in Guatemala are far form being closed down. When the Hague Convention was used to paralyze adoptions by the incompetent bureaucrats of the PGN, the Constitutional Court ruled in favor of the notaries, stating that the convention could not eliminate the notarial process of adoption. By the same token, an ordinary law cannot modify the constitutionally protected process of adoption, where a notary presides it, because to do so would be unconstitutional.
Even in the worst scenario, where the proposal is approved, the law still has to go to the president for his approval, then it has to be published in the official newspaper and it would be until thirty days later, that the law would become effective. All processes started before that day, would be finished according to the "old laws". To deem that a process is started, the child has to be already born and the power of attorney has to be recorded at the Guatemalan Supreme Court. It would not matter that not all the documents are put together. The missing documents can be added later.
ADA is poised to file all the necessary legal actions if this proposal ever becomes a law. You may choose to switch your quest for a child to another country, but keep in mind that the children of Guatemala cannot change of country of birth. It is for them that we have to keep the successful legal system that allows them to find permanent and loving families, even if those families live in another country.
Best regards,
Susana Luarca
Asociacion Defensores de la Adopción - ADA
Yay!!! That's great news!!!
Posted by: Anne at September 21, 2005 08:22 AMYay!! Thank you so much for your work [and your update!!] Susana. There are so many of us cheering you from afar.
Posted by: lcreekmo at September 21, 2005 08:37 AMHurray! Thank you so much for this post and the wonderful photographs and, from the bottom of my heart and soul, thank you for the work that you do!
Posted by: Julie at September 21, 2005 08:58 AMBless you Susana and everyone who rallys for this cause. My beautiful daughter has been home over a year and I still come to this website every day and follow all the adoption news from Guatemala. I accepted referral of my daughter during the Hague mess and, though I didn't think I would make it at the time, I did and she is the light of my life. All of my prayers and thoughts to everyone involved and most especially to the children who continue to need loving forever families
Posted by: Sharon at September 21, 2005 09:15 AMHooray! thanks so much for the update and all the details! I am crying as i write this-thank you so much for all the work you do!
Posted by: Kelly at September 21, 2005 09:15 AMwhat amazing pictures! ia m so pleased there is more time for ADA to talk to congress representatives - and to see people out demonstrating - it feels like an answer to many prayers ... here's hoping this turns out to be a positive development for adoption in Guatemala in the longer term -with more debate and more information :)
Posted by: mary-kate at September 21, 2005 10:02 AMI would like to say that all the people in the photo marching are true "Guardian Angels" **They are for the children first and have such passion in what they do. I take my hat off to them, they are wonderful people.
God Bless them and the children.
Thanks so much too Susanna and our ADA friends!!!!! I met Susanna during the Hague fiasco and she told me to never give up on the children and the work we do to help them get homes, I have always cherished that advice and we have continued to process adoptions and to support the children and the rights of the birth mothers to have their children in wonderful healthy homes. Bravo!!!!!! Our prayers are with all our friends in Guatemala.... Sandi
Posted by: Sandi at September 21, 2005 10:54 AMWonderful wonderful news!! The pictures are very moving- please know that we are all standing right there in spirit. I am simply overjoyed that ADA has been able to talk to more congressmen. To have such passionate and caring voices shouting for the children is truly awesome. Our prayers and thoughts are indeed with our friends in Guatemala. Gracias Susanna. Gracias ADA. Peace to all... Michelle
Posted by: Michelle H at September 21, 2005 11:15 AMSo happy to hear this great news! Thank you for all you do!
Lee
Thank you so much Susana! Your work is so appreciated. My husband and I have just started the paperwork for an aoption from Guatemala and we hope that everything will go smoothly. Your work in keeping this law from going through means so much to us! Thank you!
Posted by: Wendy at September 21, 2005 12:27 PMCan somebody please tell me what is the adoption law that they are trying to pass? I am confused on what this all means? I really appreciate your help.
Kathleen
Posted by: Kathleen at September 21, 2005 12:50 PMKathleen:
If you go to the home page of guatadopt.com and scroll down, there are postings under the titles of "Law Proposal is Back" and "Law Update". The Law Update post has an English translation of the proposed law. Hope this helps!
Posted by: Karon at September 21, 2005 01:08 PMThank you to Susana and the ADA for all that you have done! I, too, am a survivor of the Hague fiasco and brought my daughter home a year and a half ago. As a single mom, I can tell you that no child is more loved and cherished than my daughter. The children of Guatemala need a system which guarantees them the basic human right of a loving home - single parent or couple - and a stable future. The congress needs to understand that those of us who adopt our children from Guatemala are raising them to take GREAT pride in their heritage and to, hopefully, give back to the country of their birth someday. Bless you to all that are working to keep ALL loving homes accessible to children who need them!!!
Posted by: Lisa at September 21, 2005 01:13 PMI know this is off topic but and I hope ok, bt I was told that someone very involved with helping adoptions recently had a face lift??? Who ever that is THANK YOU a million and one for helping even though you yourself are recovering!!!
Cynthia
Posted by: cynthia at September 21, 2005 01:15 PMFor your information I did not have a face lift, even though I would like one. I had surgery to remove a carcinoma on top of my nose. It was three weeks ago, and I feel fine, thank you.
Susana Luarca
Posted by: Susana Luarca at September 21, 2005 01:44 PMSusana, thank you for your hard work and wonderful post. It's a great reminder that we should never forget that it's about the children!
Susana,
My Husband and I are just finishing the homestudy paperwork and are on pins and needles trying to understand what is going on with all of this. Thanks so much for this web site. And we are in it for the long haul.
Posted by: Debbie at September 21, 2005 02:05 PMWe are a couple who are currently awaiting customs clearance and pray that the Ortega Law wil not pass. Not only for ourselves, but for all the children of Guatemala who cannot be provided for. We hope that God will answer our prayers as we chose Guatemala because they took such great care of their children. We hope this will not ever change.
Posted by: karen at September 21, 2005 02:48 PMI heard that the second reading may be scheduled for Thursday (tomorrow). Does anyone know if this is true? I, as with everyone else, am keeping my fingers crossed as I am a single parent in the middle of the process and can't even imagine not having a child from Guatemala. Thanks for keeping us updated, this website (and the people involved with it) sure help this process!
Posted by: Lynn at September 21, 2005 03:27 PMThank you for the update, Susana, and for all that you are doing to help prevent this proposed law from passing. As a 40 yr old, happy, financially-secure single woman, with lots of support by my family and friends, my heart broke two weeks ago when I heard that there was a chance that my plans to adopt from Guatemala might not be able to happen, simply because I'm single. No offense to married couples, but I don't feel that being single makes me any less capable of being a parent. My paperwork will be on it's way to Guatemala next week and I sincerely hope that all goes well, as I know that I will be able to provide a loving home to a child who might otherwise have nothing. Thanks again for all you are doing!
Posted by: Maria at September 21, 2005 03:29 PMSusana,
I cannot thank you enough for your updates & hard work at keeping adoptions open in Guatemala. You were also our atty for our son's case. You are going to be near us in Cinci this weekend, and we'd love so much to see you but cannot attend b/c of a prior engagement. Still, big hugs to you & sending prayers your way as you continue your journey to keeping adoptions open. Thank you SO much.
Glenn, Melanie, and Connor (Luis Angel)
Susana and ADA and all of the wonderful people who protested today,
Thank you so much for all that you do for the children. You and your efforts are so appreciated! Thanks for sharing the photos. I only wish that it was possible for me to be standing there with them. I am there in spirit and with my thoughts and prayers. Thank you also for the updates.
Lizzie
(single Mama to the most precious, almost two-year-old, Anarosa)
Susana and ADA Friends-
Thank you for your never-ending effort to help the children of Guatemala. Your work is of such importance! May God bless each one of you for all you do to protect the children's rights...the right to a safe and loving home.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!
Like so many of you, my husband and I have just completed our home study. We were devastated when we were informed about the news in Guatemala. Thank you all so much for everything you are doing for the children. Please know that we are with you in prayer, heart, and spirit. Continue you to do your wonderful work. Our prayer is that we soon are able to bring our child home!!! Thanks again!!
Posted by: Lori at September 21, 2005 06:12 PMSusana and ADA supporters.
I too say thank you and may God hugely bless you in all that you do to represent children in need of good homes. Also thank you for fighting for the adoptive parents. Each story is unique and we thank you for helping ours to continue. I am adopted and could not imagine having a different family. We have been on the referral list for 2 months now and can't wait to see our little girl. Gracias por todos!
sheri
Muchas Gracias!!!
We really appreciate all of your efforts and the updates.
Posted by: Karen at September 21, 2005 09:00 PMSusana: More thanks from an adoptee and an adoptive mom. My daughter came home from Guatemala in Jan 04 at the age of 3 months. I've read your updates throughout the Hague mess and now this. You are truly an amazing woman and I am sincerely indebted to you.
Posted by: Elizabeth S. at September 21, 2005 09:22 PMLicda. Susana:
Su trabajo que antecede fue mejor que el nuestro, he leído toda su exposición, la felicito y sigamos adelante luchando contra el mounstro.......
Gracias........
Feliciano Carrillo.
I don't want to burst anyone's bubble but it doesn't look like we are out of the woods yet.The second reading will still take place right?
Posted by: kay at September 22, 2005 07:00 AMDoes anyone know when the second reading will take place?
Posted by: Lynn at September 22, 2005 11:16 AM2nd reading took place today and passed favorably according to my agency.
Posted by: Julie at September 22, 2005 07:16 PMNo offence to Julie, but I find it very hard to believe that you would know anything before Susana, Kevin, Kelly or anyone in the ADA. Why wouldn't this site post it first!
Posted by: Karen at September 22, 2005 07:36 PMIf you check the Guatemala Congress website, you will see that law proposal 3217 was NOT on the daily events docket for today!
Posted by: Drew at September 22, 2005 07:50 PMWhy would her agency e-mail her if it wasn't true?? Maybe it's just taking a while for the information to get posted!?!
Posted by: ~m at September 22, 2005 07:52 PMSo that everyone understands our "posting policy":
* We do not post unverified information (and we try to avoid posting inadequate information as well). There are many times we *hear* about things that have happened in Guatemala, but we like to verify all information with our "ground troops" before posting it. There are occassions where agencies have been misinformed or misunderstood something that was passed on to readers. So, we are cautious.
* You also have to remember that we are volunteers with fulltime jobs elsewhere. We *attempt* to get the information to you as soon as we have it, but sometimes its just not possible. I wish we could fund a fulltime staff...but we don't have real income from the site.
So, YES, it is possible to have a delay in the information. I apologize for these delays, but Kevin and I feel it is more important to post accurate information than to always have "breaking news".
Posted by: Kelly (webmaster) at September 22, 2005 08:45 PMKelly, and the other webmaster's of guatadopt.com, I know I really do appreciate all the hard work, you put into this site! I hope my above comment wasn't offensive! Thanks again for everything you do!
Posted by: ~m at September 22, 2005 09:33 PMI'm sorry if I upset anyone, but being in the same situation as most of you, (waiting to adopt a Guatemalan child), I assumed that you were as eager for information as I was. If posting what I hear from my agency is not appropriate please let me know.
Posted by: Julie at September 22, 2005 09:43 PMI am new at this website and just now hearing about the proposed law. I plan to get better informed right away as I am in the home study process right now. I am a soon-to-be single mom and trust God to keep adoptions open from Guatemala because I know that is where my child will be born. Thank you so much, Susana, for your work in protecting the adoption process there.
Posted by: Mary Ann at September 26, 2005 10:11 AM