What is the Hague Convention?
Officially known as The Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of Intercountry Adoption , it is an international adoption law created to:
- Ensure that adoption takes place in the best interest of the child
- Ensure that adoption processes respect the fundamental rights of the child
- Prevent the abduction, sale or trafficking of children
Once a country has signed and ratified the Convention, it means that it has agreed follow certain intercountry adoption rules.
Some countries have signed and ratified the convention; some have not - Canada has. Others are at various stages in the process. This means that intercountry adoption practice varies according to whether the two countries involved are "Hague" countries or not.
The important thing to know is that prospective adoptive parents must meet the requirements and abide by the rules of:
- The Adoption Act of British Columbia
- The Hague Convention Central Authority for British Columbia
- Citizenship and Immigration Canada
- The authorities in the child's country of origin
Sunrise will help you through the process but cannot guarantee acceptance by any of the authorities involved.