Legal Definitions - Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption

The Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption is an international agreement that was established in 1993. Its purpose is to create consistent procedures for intercountry adoptions, which involve adopting a child from one country and bringing them to another country to live with their new family.

However, the Convention has not been widely accepted. While the United States has signed the agreement, it has not yet ratified it.

For example, if a family in the United States wants to adopt a child from another country that has also signed the Convention, they would need to follow the procedures outlined in the agreement. This might include obtaining approval from both the child's home country and the United States, ensuring that the child's best interests are being considered, and providing ongoing support and communication between the child and their birth family.

Overall, the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption aims to protect the rights and well-being of children who are being adopted across international borders, while also ensuring that the adoption process is fair and transparent for all parties involved.