The Hague Convention on Intercounty Adoptions

The Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption is more commonly called the Hague Convention. This multilateral treaty was approved in 1993 by 66 countries to set norms and procedures for countries that participate in intercountry adoption. The Convention's goal is to protect children, birth parents and adoptive parents involved in intercountry adoption and to prevent child-trafficking and similar abuses.

More information is available from the US Department of State. The State Department’s Website answers questions about international adoption provided by the government organization, Overseas Citizens Services (OCS), that is responsible for coordinating policies and providing information about Intercountry adoption and International parental child abduction.

The Joint Council on International Children's Services is the oldest and largest affiliation of licensed, non-profit international adoption organizations in the world. Members include adoption agencies, child welfare organizations, parent support groups and medical specialists with an interest in intercountry adoption.


The AAC submitted comments to the Foreign Relations Committee and the Department of State on the Regulations and the Convention Approval Procedures.

Response of the American Adoption Congress to Testimony Submitted to the Foreign Relations Committee, U.S. Senate, for the Hearing on the Hague Convention, October 5, 1999

Comments of the American Adoption Congress concerning Standards and Regulations to Implement the Intercountry Adoption Act, April 6, 2001

Comments of the American Adoption Congress (need new file) concerning "Final Drafts" of Hague Regulations and of Convention Accreditation and Approval Procedures submitted by Acton Burnell to the Department of State, November 15, 2003