Vietnam Adoptions: News & Updates

Although all is mostly quiet in the world of Vietnam Adoptions, the July 1 deadline for dossier submission and the September 1 deadline for matches are quickly approaching. Many have asked how, in a program that is oversaturated with waiting parents, is it beneficial to keep dossier submissions open through July 1? Some agencies are still desperately looking for families for special needs and older children, the often overlooked and most needy of orphan groups! This time has allowed for some paper-ready parents to be matched with waiting and special needs children so it has been a good thing.

Parents waiting for a match are understandably anxious for news where little is to be had. Recently a rumor has surfaced that Vietnam was willing to grandfather in all logged dossiers and drop their Sept. 1 deadline. Unfortunately US dispelled this rumor with the following recent statement:

In mid June, the U.S. Embassy contacted the Vietnamese Office of the Government in response to rumors that the Government of Vietnam had changed its policy regarding adoption dossiers still pending (without a referral) when the Agreement expires on September 1, 2008. The Office of the Government stated unequivocally that no decision has been made to change this policy.

Yesterday President Bush and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung met for a bilateral meeting to discuss many topics, one of which was the adoption process in Vietnam:

The President expressed his commitment to continue the development of intercountry adoption cooperation between the United States and Vietnam that ensures the best interests of the child, respects his or her fundamental rights, and prevents the abduction and trafficking of children. The Prime Minister underscored that Vietnam shares these goals and stressed that Vietnam will speed up preparations for an early accession to the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoptions. The Prime Minister also welcomed U.S. technical assistance in facilitating this step.

Although this topic was only a sidebar to the discussions, it was nice to see that both leaders are taking ethics and continuity as well as accession to the Hague seriously and share that common goal for Vietnam.

In Mid-May, Linh Song with Ethica, President Tom DiFilipo with JCICS and Michele Bond who works for the Department of State as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Overseas Citizens Services participated in a radio talk show on WAMU to discuss ethical concerns in adoption.

Last week, Bond also participated in Dawn Davenport’s radio talk show Creating A Family which you can listen to online here. You can also read Dawn’s thoughts on the state of International adoption based on that radio show here.

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