Kathmandu, March 10:

The UNICEF has called upon participants of the International Conference on Inter-Country Adoption, being held in Kathmandu from March 11 to 13, “to advocate child adoption mechanisms that are transparent and in line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and The Hague Convention.”

In a press release issued today, UNICEF’s Representative in Nepal, Gillian Mellsop, expressed hope that the conference “will lead to the ratification of the Hague Convention on Inter-Country Adoption and the adoption of national laws and mechanisms to regulate

in-country and inter-country adoption.”

“The Hague Convention is designed to put into action principles regarding inter-country adoption, which are contained in the CRC which Nepal has ratified.”

“These principles include ensuring that adoption is authorised only by competent authorities, and that inter-country adoption does not result in improper financial gain for those involved in it.”

It said these provisions are meant first and foremost to protect children.

Referring to the increasing trend of families from wealthy countries wanting to adopt children from other countries, Mellsop said, “Lack of education and oversight, particularly in the countries of origin, coupled with the potential for financial gain, has spurred the unfortunate growth of an industry around adoption. This means that profit, rather than the best interests of the children, takes centrestage. Abuses include the sale and abduction of children, coercion of parents, and bribery, as well as trafficking to individuals whose intentions are to exploit rather than care for children.”