USA joins 1993 Hague Intercountry Adoption Convention
On Wednesday, 12 December 2007, the United States of America deposited its instrument of ratification of the Hague Convention of 29 May 1993 on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, which it had already signed on 31 March 1994. In accordance with its Article 46(2)(a), the 1993 Convention will enter into force for the US on 1 April 2008. Present at the ceremony were, i.a., the Ambassador of the United States in the Netherlands, Mr Roland Arnall, the Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, Ms Maura Harty, and the Secretary General of the Hague Conference, Mr Hans van Loon.
[remarks by Mr Arnall | remarks by Ms Harty]
The US is the 75th nation to join the countries already part of the Hague global network in the field of intercountry adoption – a network that counts some 200 Central Authorities, competent authorities and accredited bodies co-operating to protect children worldwide.
Some impressions of the ceremony (click to enlarge):
