UNICEF

Hi all,
I have been asked a few times recently about the United Nations organization UNICEF and why I am not a fan of it. This question usually comes up around Halloween when many children are out "trick or treating for UNICEF" with their little orange boxes. Probably seems alittle untimely (being March) but much of the turmoil occurring in Guatemala now with adoption is related to 15 million dollars that UNICEF is planning to give the president of Guatemala if he closes the country to international adoption.

Although I admire much of their humanitarian work including feeding and immunization programs their views on International Adoption leads a lot to be desired. Their stand is basically this...the following statements are taken from www.guatadopt.com

UNICEF’s official position would not in itself be a cause for concern. It sounds quite logical and hard to debate. However within it lies the question of implementation, pragmatism, reality, and idealism. In addition, it is worth noting that it was only in the last couple of years that UNICEF’s official position admitted that ICA was preferred to long-term institutionalization. To illustrate my point, it is hard to debate that it is best for a child to stay with his biological family. From there is it best if she stay within her country of birth. And after that, ICA should be considered. Sounds good, but let’s illustrate where the problems lie in the details.1.) Stay with biological family – should a birthmother have the right to say that she does not wish for her child to grow up within her biological family. Should UNICEF pressure countries to pass legislation that would remove a woman’s right to develop an adoption plan? What if she knows her family would want to keep the child but not provide a safe, stable, loving environment?2.) 2.) Stay in country – So just how long should a country, under law, have to search for a hypothetic domestic family to adopt the child? What happens to the child in the meantime? What if the country offers no good foster or institutional care?
The main issue with UNICEF’s position and formal lobbying efforts are that they are based on one universal standard that does not waiver or give consideration to the uniqueness of each country. Impoverished nations with poor government infrastructure, absent of social programs, do not have the ability to implement the UNICEF ICA model and end up with a clean, functioning system. Instead what we have seen time and time again in countries like El Salvador and Honduras is an end to ICA with no evidence of an increase in family unification or domestic adoption. This is what UNICEF calls “success”.

** if anyone is further interested this is a great publication http://www.familieswithoutborders.com/FWBstudyGuatemala.pdf

just know that next year when Halloween rolls around we will not be trick or treating for Unicef :) Just something to think about!
Take Care,
Lee Anne