ANNOUNCEMENT

Finally an announcement was made regarding a campaign to urge the Department of State to sign a new agreement with Vietnam before September 1st.

Please vist the JCICS website to read the entire May 21, 2008 announcement and see how you can help us (adoptive & pre-adoptive families) contact Members of Congress and urge them to join the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Co-Chairs and sign their letter to Secretary Condoleezza Rice in support of the recommendations found in "A Child’s Right Campaign for Vietnam.”

The gist of the announcement is this:

End Corruption, Not a Child’s Right to a Family
While Joint Council shares in many of the Department of State’s concerns, we believe the solution is not the termination of adoption and elimination of a child’s right to a family. Joint Council, its Member Organizations, NGO’s including Ethica—a leading voice for ethical adoption, the Vietnamese government and Members of the United States Congress firmly believe that the solution is a rational child-centered approach designed to strengthen services, regulate providers and prosecute violators.

A Child’s Right Campaign for Vietnam
In response to the looming crisis facing the children of Vietnam, Joint Council today--May 21, 2008—initiates A Child’s Right Campaign for Vietnam. A Child’s Right Campaign for Vietnam proposes a series of rational recommendations that address the issues of abuse, protect the integrity of Vietnamese families and ensure the right of every child to a permanent, safe and loving family. The overriding goal of this campaign is very simple: to end corruption, but not a child’s right to a family.

The JCICS encourages people to send an email of support to them by May 30, 2008 and participate in a phone-a-thon, if you will, on June 2, 3 or 4, 2008 asking your local representatives to support A Child's Right Campaign for Vietnam then follow that up with an email to them as well. In the announcement you will find instructions on how to find your local representatives and what to say to them.

I will be taking part in this campaign as it effects me directly and so many others that I know and I hope that those families who follow behind me will not have as many issues. I ask that, if you have the time, please participate in this.