What is the Hague Adoption Convention, and why is it so important?
The Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Inter-Country Adoption is a multilateral treaty among over 75 countries. As stated in its preamble, it seeks “to ensure that intercountry adoptions are made in the best interests of the child and with respect for his or her fundamental rights, and to prevent the abduction, the sale of, or traffic in children.” The Convention establishes safeguards and procedures to protect children in intercountry adoptions, and to take the interests of birth parents into account. The Convention states in its preamble that “the child, for the full and harmonious development of his or her personality, should grow up in a family environment, in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding.” Ideally, that family environment is with the child’s birth parents or with extended family members. If this is not possible and a suitable domestic adoption is not available, intercountry adoptions should be available for children t
