Submitted by crinadmin on
The National Attorney General, Mario Gordillo, announced that so far this year more that 1,400 adoptions have been authorised. The majority of adoptions were made by foreigners, in particular North American families.
According to information provided by the Attorney General, last year 8,000 applications for adoption were received, of which 4,500 were legal.
The lack of public policies supporting the family on the part of the State of Guatemala, the fact that the country possesses one of the highest levels of fertility in Latin America, and weak legislation with regard to adoptions, have combined to convert this noble institution into a lucrative business, where children are “exported” from Guatemala to other countries, without analysis or vigilance to ensure their protection. At the present time, the adoption procedure in Guatemala can violate the rights of the child, but these violations can be committed within a formal framework of legality that is permitted by the fragility of the system.
Casa Alianza supports adoption, when it is a noble institution where children will find a home in which to grow healthily, when it is always realized within a legal framework, and when it entirely guarantees the rights of children and their families