November in the Congo UPDATED

November 13/France

“More than 300 people demonstrated Thursday morning in front of the DRC embassy in Paris and at the Quai d’Orsay. The Democratic Republic of Congo has frozen all adoption procedures since 2013.

The plight of a hundred French families, awaiting their adopted children in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Some count the days since 2011. More than 300 people from all over France, demonstrated Thursday morning at the DRC embassy in Paris and at the Foreign Ministry, asking the children finally join their adoptive parents.

Since September 2013, the Congo has frozen all procedures, following “abuse and mistreatment” in some countries but not in France, said the Congolese Embassy in Paris. And even if families that have nothing to reproach live this separation as a drama.

125 children and 102 families are concerned with precisely this problem. All papers are in order, but it lacks one thing: the authorization to leave the Congolese territory. Applications are frozen since September 2013, in Kinshasa.

These families also put pressure on the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to resolve the situation through diplomatic channels. And that is possible: for a year, fifteen children were able to obtain permission to leave after waivers granted “.

Manifestation of families waiting for their adopted children in the DRC[France info by Benjamin Illy,google translated]

November 21/US

“A Dunedin couple have succeeded in their fight to bring home their dying adopted son from the Democratic Republic of Congo, say advocates who have been assisting them.

Ten-month-old Cruz is among hundreds of legally adopted Congolese children barred from leaving the African country because of a September 2013 moratorium on exit permits surrounding international adoptions.

The implications are dire for about 30 children, like Cruz, who are critically ill and in need of immediate medical attention.

In October, his adoptive mom, Andrea Stewart, traveled to Congo to plead with officials in person for a medical exception.

Nearly four weeks later, officials deemed Cruz and 10 other children certified by three Congolese physicians to be so ill that they need to be evacuated to the United States for treatment unavailable there. Their ailments include HIV, heart and lung defects, and seizure disorders.

On Thursday, Cruz, whose rare respiratory disease is expected to kill him unless he receives heart and lung transplants within six months, became the third to receive an exit letter. United States government officials are pushing Congolese leaders to issue the remainder and to examine 18 additional sick children.

Advocates say Congo’s reason for the exit ban has repeatedly shifted from concerns about the welfare of adoptees in foreign countries to worries about the integrity of its own adoption system and more.

“The real obstacle has been getting the medical assessments done, because adoption is such a political issue in that country right now,” said Kelly Dempsey, general counsel for Both Ends Burning, a nonprofit rallying to assist the children and their families. “It’s hard to find physicians who are willing to examine these children and prepare reports.”

Mother and child are scheduled to arrive at Tampa International Airport this evening — sparing Andrea, her husband, Chris, and their three young biological children from plans to uproot and move to Congo.

“We are beyond blessed with the honor of being Cruz’s family. For now, we will focus on his health and where the next steps take us into caring for orphans around the world,” the couple said in a statement released through U.S. Rep. David Jolly’s office.

Dempsey said a medical team is in place to immediately admit Cruz to a hospital as soon as he touches American soil.

“For Cruz, this will mean the difference between life and death,” she said. “Andrea’s fondest wish was to be home and with Cruz in the hospital for Thanksgiving, and I think she’s going to get that wish. I am just thrilled for them.”

Meanwhile, Dempsey said her group, as well as federal authorities, remain on the case: “As wonderful as this is for Cruz and the Stewarts, I know they will continue to fight for those kids too, because there are hundreds more waiting.””

Dunedin couple allowed to bring adopted son out of Congo[Tampa Bay times by Keyonna Summers]

November 28/Netherlands

“Thirty Congolese children adopted by thirteen sets of Dutch parents, have been waiting for more than a year for their departure to the Netherlands. State Secretary Fred Teeven calls it a distressing situation.

Teeven told the Second Chamber this week that he wants to travel to Congo before Christmas to “discuss the situation”. According to Teeven, many diplomatic efforts have been made to get the kids to the Netherlands. But “the Netherlands and many other European countries have not succeeded yet”.

Congo has stringent requirements for adoption abroad. For example, children may only be adopted by heterosexual couples who have been married for at least five years. Last year September the country suspended all adoptions, fearing that children do not end up well. According to Teeven, since then the United States and France have managed to arrange a number of exit visas.”

JUSTICE SEC TO VISIT ADOPTED CHILDREN STUCK IN CONGO[Netherlands Times by  Janene Van Jaarsveldt]

November 29/US

“Congressional leaders haven’t forgotten about hundreds of children halfway around the world, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who can’t go home.

They have sent letters to Congolese officials, imploring them to let children who have been adopted by people in the U.S. and other countries finally go to their forever families.

But the Congolese leaders haven’t issued exit papers for more than a year, leaving hundreds of children in limbo.

Nearly 200 members of Congress — including Republican U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz and U.S. Reps. Kay Granger of Fort Worth, Kenny Marchant of Coppell, Roger Williams of Austin and Democrat U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey of Fort Worth — signed a recent letter.

“Some of these children have remained separated from their legal parents for over a year waiting for this final departure permission,” the congressional letter states. “Tragically, some of these children have died while waiting for exit permission, and others are very ill and need immediate medical attention.

“We hope that you will agree that swift action is necessary to prevent further loss of innocent lives and the continued suffering and distress for the children and their legal parents.”

One potentially encouraging sign is that a few of the children in limbo who have medical conditions so severe that they could die — such as HIV or heart or lung defects — have been given exit letters so they can get medical attention.

Earlier this month, Andrea and Chris Stewart of Florida successfully brought their 10-month-old adoptive son, Cruz, home from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Cruz needs major surgery because of heart and lung malformations.

“We are beyond blessed with the honor of being Cruz’s family,” according to a statement from the Stewarts. “For now, we will focus on his health and where the next steps take us into caring for orphans around the world.”

Last September, the Democratic Republic of the Congo stopped issuing exit papers after hearing reports that some children from Congo might have been abused by their adoptive families or adopted by other people once they left their homeland, according to the State Department.

“Congolese officials have informed us on several occasions that the suspension was prompted in part by weaknesses in Congolese adoption procedures, which they believe may not adequately protect children,” according to a statement on the State Department’s website. “The suspension was imposed on all inter-country adoptions of Congolese children by prospective/adoptive parents from all countries, not just adoptions by United States prospective/adoptive parents.”

Ongoing talks

Congolese officials haven’t said when they will resume issuing the papers.

President Joseph Kabila has said the suspension can’t be lifted until the Parliament passes new adoption laws. And although he and other Congolese leaders appear receptive to new adoption laws, there are no such proposals on the table.

Congressional members’ staffs have met with DRC National Assembly members, who have said they need to make sure children in their country are safe — no matter where they are.

A U.S. Department of State delegation is expected to travel to Kinshasa this month to meet with officials.

“We remain committed to ensuring that federal laws in the U.S. continue to protect all children against abuse and neglect and to appropriately punish any persons who violate these laws,” the congressional letter states. “We respectfully request that the Congolese National Assembly and Senate prioritize legislation that strengthens the Congolese intercountry adoption process.

“This legislation would ensure that intercountry adoptions of Congolese children can be completed in an honest, ethical manner and that the children who are currently waiting to be united with their legal parents can finally benefit from living with the security of a permanent, loving family.”

Congo adoptions

A number of U.S. residents have turned to Congo in recent years for adoption because of the great and growing need there.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is the second-largest country in Africa, but millions died in a civil war more than a decade ago. Poverty, armed conflict and other problems have taken a toll on the Congolese population, which includes more than 4 million orphaned children.

There, 1 in 7 children dies before turning 5. Fewer than half who survive have access to clean water, nearly one-fourth are underweight, and nearly half aren’t vaccinated for common childhood diseases, according to UNICEF research.

Even so, State Department officials are “strongly” recommending against anyone beginning an adoption in the DRC now.

An online petition that so far has been signed by more than 117,000 people also encourages U.S. officials — including Secretary of State John Kerry — to “take a personal interest in resolving this situation.”

“Every day that passes, these waiting children are being damaged,” the petition reads. “They need a solution now!”

 

U.S. officials call on Congo to release adopted children[Star-Telegram by Anna M. Tinsley]

REFORM Puzzle Piece

Update:“State Secretary Fred Teeven of Security and Justice returned from Congo empty handed. He was there to pick up children adopted by couples in the Netherlands.

Congo still refuses to let the 30 adopted children go to the Netherlands, the Volkskrant reports. Teeven only got a promise that the adoption process does not have to be started again. Teeven traveled to Congo to negotiate for the Dutch couples. In some cases they have been waiting for two years for a child that they have adopted.

In September 2013 Congo decided to suspend all foreign adoptions, even if the adoptions were already approved. The country did this to prevent children being placed with other parents than agreed. Congo has strict requirements for foreign adoptions. For example, adopted children may only be placed with heterosexual couples that have been married for at least five years.”

TEEVEN RETURNS FROM CONGO WITHOUT ADOPTED CHILDREN[Netherland Times 12/23/14 by Janene Van Jaarsveldt]

Update 2:”Lawmakers are calling on the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to expedite the review of about 400 pending adoption cases that are on hold due to suspended exit permits.

In a letter to Congo’s Senate President Léon Kengo Wa Dondo and President of the National Assembly Aubin Minaku, Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) said hundreds of Congolese children have been legally adopted by American parents but can’t leave the country.

“Due to the delay in processing the outstanding adoption cases, we understand that at least one child has unnecessarily died despite already possessing a valid visa with which to immediately enter the United States,” said the letter signed by 136 lawmakers. “Other children remain in unstable conditions.”

The letter went on to say some American parents have put their lives on hold and moved to Congo to be closer to and properly care for their adopted children.

This is the second letter Cornyn and Klobuchar have sent DRC National Assembly leaders in less than a year in an effort to resolve the adoption crisis.

While the lawmakers said they are committed to preserving the integrity of the inter-country adoption process, they said they’re also dedicated to ensuring federal U.S. laws protect all children from abuse and neglect, punishing those who violate them.”

Lawmakers ask Congo leadership to expedite adoptions [The Hill 8/4/15 by Lydia Wheeler]

Update 3:US Dos issues a notice found here:

“Adoption Alert: Measles Outbreak in the DRC