Archive for US DOS children’s issues
The Guatemala900 Marches on Washington DC
Posted by: | CommentsToday, May 6th, 2010, the Guatemala900 marched on Washington DC to, once again, to bring awareness to our elected officials of the plight of the more than 600 children left behind in Guatemala after adoptions closed almost 2 1/2 years ago. The children left behind were not new adoption cases but children who have adoptive parents and who had been promised to be “grandfathered” into the old adoption system and allowed to finish their adoptions. That did not happen and children have been left in institutions, foster care and some families do not even know where their children are. Many are not allowed to see their children. This is a tragedy and has gone on far too long. These children are being use as political pawns and treated as criminals. We must bring an awareness to not only the United States government but to the Guatemalan government as well. These children must be allowed to go home. What is happening is cruel to not only the children but their families as well. These families have been living a nightmare.
Take a look at the grief on the faces of these families. Take a moment to sign the petition to First Ladies, Michelle Obama and Sandra Torres Colom, MOTHER’S DAY PETITION TO THE FIRST LADIES
For further information on the Guatemala900 What an awesome group of people! Committed and truly dedicated to seeing everyone of these kids get home. All of us at Semillas de Amor send you a huge thank you for you kindness, compassion and never forgetting the kids.
The photos below were taken by Gary Cooper, Futuro de los Niños, at the Washington DC march today.
Washington DC March for the Guatemala900 Kids!
Posted by: | CommentsMark your calendars for May 6th in Washington DC! There are over 500 children, who were suppose to be covered under the grandfather clause and allowed to go home with their adoptive parents, still left in Guatemala. Many children have US visas, many children have their adoptions finalized and still they wait, institutionalized. These children were promised by both the United States and Guatemalan governments that their adoptions would be completed. And now, over two years later, lots of unfulfilled promises, children’s precious years robbed from them by government bureaucracies, families have been emotionally and financially devastated. The Guatemala900 is serious, we want the children to go home to their families now. Please join us in the march to help the children get home. Semillas de Amor is home to 16 of the 500+ children. If you can’t attend the march, please contact the Guatemala900 website below and see what you can do to help these children be heard. The only voices they have are yours.
Thank You 52 US Senators and Congresspersons!
Posted by: | CommentsBarbara Boxer’s letter asking Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to intervene on the behalf of over 800 children stuck in a dysfunctional adoption system in Guatemala was signed by 52 US Congresspersons and Senators. These children, some who have US visas to travel to go home to their families have been in limbo for over 18 months. These same children were to be grandfathered under the former adoption laws but that has not happened. The Guatemala900 has worked tirelessly to obtain these 52 signatures. Today, both the Prensa Libre and the Siglo 21 had articles regarding the letter. Both articles were neutral and did not go in to any detail. The English translation of the Prensa Libre article. The Siglo 21 asked for a comment from the PGN but they were unwilling to comment. The new adoption central authority’s comment was that these children, these 800+ children, are not under the new law and they have nothing to do with their cases. It is too early to tell how the children will be impacted by this letter and if they will be allowed to go home. Click here to see the letter and all 52 signatures!
The photos below are from a photo shoot this morning. We made thank you cards for the Senators and Congressperson thanking them for their support in helping the kids get home. I had to post the photos because the kids are just way too cute.
Thank you to EVERYONE who worked so hard on this campaign to alert US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, to what is happening to these children and asking for her support.
To help support Semillas de Amor please go to SaveSemillas for more information on donations. Thank you.