Guatemalan Congress Proposal
Several members of the Guatemalan Congress has submitted a new proposal which will be submitted to congress early next week. We have been informed by our agency that although this means that prospective families will be allowed to continue through the process it may not mean that new cases will be allowed to finish, as the grandfather date is only through April (US has not implemented the Hague).
- Includes a strong ‘grandfather’ clause,
- Designates April 30, 2008 as the effective implementation date of the Convention,
- Allocates $5 million Quetzales ($650,000 USD) for the creation of the Central Authority
- Allocates a percentage of the total government budget for child welfare services
- Creates a new government entity to act as the Central Authority in Guatemala,
- Provides for private non-profit accredited entities to provide services to children,
- Allows single potential adoptive parents to apply for adoption,
- Creates a functional process by which children can find a permanent, safe and loving family.
What is your opinion about this?
