Hague Convention on International Adoption

The Hague Convention on International Adoption (also known as intercountry adoption) is an international agreement between participating countries on the best adoption procedures for the children involved.  These procedures ensure that the best interest of the children are considered with each international adoption and help to prevent the abduction, exploitation, trafficking or sale of children across country lines.



The Hague Convention is meant to help protect the adoptive familie, the children being adopted, and the adoption agencies involved.  It ensures that these are truly orphans in need of a home, and not just children who were kidnapped or sold and given to a private adoption agency in their country.

The Hague Convention has three main objectives:

1. to establish safeguards to ensure that international adoptions take place in the best interests of the child and with respect for his or her fundamental rights as recognized in international law
2. to establish a system of cooperation amongst the contracting states to ensure that the above mentioned safeguards are respected, and thereby prevent the abduction, sale, or trafficking of children
3. to secure the recognition in contracting states of adoptions made in accordance with the Hague Convention

And while joining the Hague Convention might seem like a natural thing to do for any country that wishes to place the well-being of its citizens, especially children, above all else, the list of countries, especially some Asian and African nations, that have not joined may surprise you.  The decision of whether or not to adopt a child from a country that is a member of the Hague Convention is yours, but make sure you do all the research, and ask your international adoption agent and adoption lawyer, so you know what it means to be a member.  

Here is a link to a list of various countries and there Hague Convention Status:

Hague Countries Status Table