[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book II)]
[October 6, 2000]
[Pages 2061-2062]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on Signing the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000
October 6, 2000

    Today I have signed into law H.R. 2909, the ``Intercountry Adoption 
Act of 2000.'' This Act will implement the Hague Convention on 
Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry 
Adoption. I am pleased that the Senate gave its advice and consent to 
ratification of the Convention on September 20, 2000.
    The United States and 65 other countries came together to negotiate 
the Convention in response to abuses in the intercountry adoption 
process, including illegal child trafficking. By setting uniform 
standards, the Convention better protects the rights and interests of 
children, birth parents, and adoptive parents involved in intercountry 
adoption.
    In its preamble, the Convention recognizes that children should grow 
up in a family environment and that properly safeguarded intercountry 
adoption offers the advantage of a permanent family to children who 
cannot readily be placed with a suitable family in their country of 
origin. The United States actively participated in the preparation and 
negotiation of this Convention, with the guidance and participation of 
representatives of U.S. adoption and family law interests. Since the 
United States signed the Convention in 1994, several ratifying countries 
have expressed the view that they would prefer that their children 
emigrate only to countries that have agreed to comply with the Hague 
Convention's safeguards and procedures. As a result, the U.S. adoption 
community has supported U.S. implementing legislation. This bill will 
ensure the full and uniform implementation of the Convention throughout 
the United States.
    Adoption is an emotional event. With the complexities of 
international law and procedures, these cases are often overwhelming for 
the families involved. The Hague Convention and the implementing 
legislation will provide protections for children and parents engaged in 
intercountry adoption and will help ensure a standard of service that 
all families deserve.

                                                      William J. Clinton

 The White House,

 October 6, 2000.

Note: H.R. 2909, approved October 6, was assigned Public Law No. 106-
279.

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