Today is Mother's Day in Guatemala. So we would like to send out best wishes, love, and respect to all of the mothers and foster mothers to whom we and our children owe so much. While some claim that a women who relinquishes her child is trying to abandon her motherly responsibilities, many of us who have contact with our children's birthmoms know this not to be true. The fact is that it takes huge courage and love to be able to put your own self aside and care for your child's health, future, and well being so much that you make the such an extreme sacrifice.
And to the true heroines of Gutaemalan adoptions..the cuidadoras (foster moms)... I don't know what else to say but thank you! In the current crisis where adoptions are taking longer, more than ever it is you who will ensure that the children are impacted as little as possible. And it is you who will have the ever more difficult job of handing over a child who you have come to love like your own. To my kids' foster moms, we love you and I'll be calling you later.
What I have heard is that knock on wood, some of the cases where the interview took place will be released next week. I hope this occurs as a good faith show that no one is trying to prevent the cases from being completed. So come on PGN - release those files!
The link you'll find by clikcing on more will take you to the form we have created to develop a database of abandonment cases that could not be registered with the CNA. Please only fill this out if you were matched with a child whose case was (or still is) in the abandonment process when the new law took effect AND it thus could not be registered with the CNA.
There are no hard core who can and can't fill out the form. So please use your best judgement.
The ADA has a new post on its website with its take on the PGN birthmom interviews being requested. You can find it here: http://www.adaguatemala.org/English/news/
Let me start by sayng that everyone needs to remain calm and not take at face value what the press, Guatemalan and US, say. Words like "supsends" can be used to make things sound different than they are, while techicaly being correct.
Please click on more for all I have for you today...
NOTE: Please remember our rules on comments. If you do not provide a valid e-mail address on the comment form we will NOT approve the comment. No one can see the e-mail address except for Guatadopt staff and it is kept confidential.
According to the Prensa Libre, all adoptions are being put on hold for a month in order to validate the legitimacy of the cases. The story can found here: http://www.prensalibre.com/pl/2008/mayo/05/236311.html. By clicking on more you can read a so-so internet translation of it. As we learn more we will post it.
In different news many of you have been following the story of a Sobrevivientes led hunger strike by four women who claim their children were stolen. Guatadopt has tried to contact the organization in order to get pictures of these children so that maybe the adoption community can help find them. Sadly they have not respondedand pictures of the children can not be found on their website. If anyone has communciations with them, please ask them to do so as it seems "odd" that they would not accept or respond to our offer to help.
Guatadopt prides itself on allowing all opinions an equal voice and being objective. Obviously from my latest Writer's Corner post and how we covered the current situation, I have been more understanding of what the CNA is facing and the current course of action. With that said, Hannah Wallace is someone for whom I have nothing but the deepest respect and admiration. In the piece below, she makes some very excellent points and hers is a voice that definitely deserves to be heard.
So PLEASE click on more to read her take.
In the next day or so, Guatadopt will create a form where people waiting on an abandonment decree can register their information. We can make no promises of any success. Individual case info will kept confidential from the public but by flling it out you will be authorizing us to send it to the CCAI, CNA, or other governmental bodies as necessary. We did learn that CCAI would like this info and so we're happy to use our reach to the adoption community to help.
To be clear, once this form is up (we will post it here on the main Guatadopt.com homepage) you should only fill it out if: Your case needed a Certificate of Abandoment when CNA registration occured and thus could not be registered.
Today I learned that Mateo, the son of a friend of ours and Guatemalan adopteee, was diagnosed with Leukemia. This is very hard to swallow as we went through our daughter's adoption along with his and I can not begin to imagine the pain and stress his parents must feel. So please, say a prayer for his treatment to be successfull and with as minimal discomfort as possible.
For those of you who know Mateo and his parents, please refrain from posting their private site in order to respect their privacy.
Gracias y paz!
The sign on the window (above) says that they are not releasing cases right now. We already knew this to be the case. But we have confirmed that they are accepting cases and have not closed the case submission window. To those asking about abandonment cases that don't have a COA and could not be registered, this would be a Consejo issue, not something PGN can decide.
We're still waiting for multiple source updates. But one forum regular who attended the meeting basically posted that it went well. She said that
1.) PGN agreed to look into the legality of the CNA auditing grandfathered cases
2.) PGN agreed that everyone knows who the corrupt attorneys are and that they will not hold up all cases over that (note: I find this hard to believe as who decides the list of "corrupt" attorneys"). But they said that they will separate investigations of attorneys from the adoptions themselves and prosecute the corrupt ones.
3.) They will process cases in a timely fashion
4.) They are looking into cases that seemed to have exited PGN too quickly in the past. Iwould assume this part of investigating what went on in PGN with Gordillo and Barrios as there is till a court case open involving their firing.
Click on more for an update 8:00 pm Monday
As we learn more and get more reports, we'll post it.
Guatadopt is currently trying to learn and verify the exact situation right now. As it appears, all cases in PGN are on what I will call a temporary hold, awaiting an audit. We have also heard that the CNA plans to interview all birthmothers to verify that their relinquishment was voluntary. Later tonight, I hope to write up a commentaty, but after two days travelling for work and much more time sleep deprived because of concern over some particular children in Guatemala, I'm in much need of a nap.
On a different note, please realize that sometimes it can take a little while for us to clear comments. Kelly and I both have real jobs that have to take precedence. Yesterday I was travelling all day and Kelly was in meetings, thus we couldn't clear comments. Please do not post repeatedly as it creates clutter and ends up having our server automatically ban you since it looks like spam. It's unfortunate that we have to clear all comments but back when we didn't, all sorts of porn and other inappropriate things got posted.
The new Attorney General Baudilio Portillo Merlos took over yesterday. The new Sub Attorney General (replacing Barrios) is Attorney Flory de De Leon and she has already moved into the office. It appears she may be holding off making any critical decisions until the Constitutional Court rules. The new AG has requested an audit, as well.
What does this mean? Short term, cases that were simply waiting for Barrios' signature are going to be delayed because of the way the review process works and the audit. With a change of power comes delays in about any business or government entity. Expect an impact on all cases currently in PGN. Long term, we cannot predict what this will mean. As always, we hope that this appointment by Colom will mean a more efficient PGN.
On April 29th, President Colom will be in Washington DC to meet with President Bush as well as the CCAI (Congressional Coalition on Adoption) which we can only assume that they will discuss the current situation with Guatemalan Adoptions.
This may very well be a good chance to have our voices heard by both governments! But before we start making demands or asking the US to pressure Guatemala to do this or that, let us think about what we really want to occur.
Today, Guatemala has a new Attorney General appointed by President Colom. Attorney Baudilio Portillo Merlos takes over the position from Gordillo. Gordillo has filed an appeal to the Constitutional Court to keep the position. I guess we will see if that challenge holds any water!
Since this is connected to the operations of PGN, I will also mention that there have been some rumors that PGN "closed its doors" and everything has been left to the CNA. Today, several of our contacts went to PGN and are confirming that PGN is still working. If there is a problem, our sources usually contact us immediately and we will certainly post it here.
UPDATE 4/21/08: This is an update to a previous post from 3/4/08 that can be read by clicking more. USCIS has gotten over most of hte backlog of requests. They have asked me to pass on that anyone making an inquiry regarding G-884 requests or inquiries regarding Certificates of Citizenship include the child's registration number with their initial inquiry.
The registration number can be found on the VISA page of the Guatemalan passport or on the Certificate of Citizenship.
