Guatemala to tighten adoption process

Published: Oct. 1, 2007 at 11:28 AM

GUATEMALA CITY, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- Prospective parents who travel to Guatemala to adopt babies will find the process more complicated beginning in January.

Under pressure from the United States and other countries. Guatemala's government has agreed to create a central agency to review adoption requests, oversee foster homes and accredit adoption agencies, The Arizona Republic reported Monday.

Currently the country is considered the No. 1 place to go for Americans who want to adopt infants because its "notarial" system puts private lawyers in charge of the entire process.

Prospective parents find looser requirements, shorter waits and a greater availability of young children than in the United States, the Republic said.

At the same time, the ease of adoption has sparked charges of baby-selling, kidnapping and bribery.

Helen Mack, who heads a human rights group in Guatemala City, told the Republic that while adoption is a noble endeavor, crimes are being committed in its name.

© 2007 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Order reprints



Additional News Stories
Watercooler Stories (40 min)
UPI Thoroughbred Racing Roundup
Jockstrip: The world as we know it.
COL BKB: Wash. 88, Cal.St. Northridge 76
Abba, Queen top karaoke picks in Britain
Your Daily Horoscope
The almanac
fark
Train buffs arrested after builoding their own locomotive out of spare parts, garden furniture and...
The six scariest processed foods the world has ever seen, or as they are known in America, 'lunch'...
1,200 limos, 140 private planes and caviar wedges galore. Yep, the Climate Summit
4-hour search with helicopter and bloodhounds caused by a bridesmaid getting so drunk at the reception...
West Dorset police, called to investigate mysterious incidents of horse's manes being plaited, respond...
Today's Instashop Challenge: "Can you photoshop my six-month old on his sled onto some extreme mountains...