In December 2012, the adoptions of more than 1,000 Russian children were stopped by the passage of a Russian law banning adoptions by US citizens -a law sometimes called the Dima Yakovlev law. Approximately 300 of these children had already spent days meeting and bonding with their prospective adoptive parents. The Russian Federation maintains that the law was passed because of the abuse and neglect of children who had previously been adopted to America and because of the way the American government handled these cases. However, many people, including Russian citizens, believe that the law was passed in response to the Magnitsky Act which was signed by the American government in early December 2012 and sanctions Russian officials suspected of human rights abuses. In January 2013, approximately 20,000 Russian citizens took to the streets to protest the law which they refer to as Herod’s Law.
December 2014 marks the second anniversary of the adoption ban and at least 40 of the original 300 'pipeline' children, who have already met and bonded with their prospective American families, are still in Russian orphanages. Most of these children have special needs that make it unlikely that they will be chosen for adoption again.
Since early 2013 the families who still desperately want to adopt these children have tried repeatedly to negotiate a pathway for the completion of their adoptions. They have traveled to Washington DC to propose ways to address some of the concerns the Russian Federation about the welfare of Russian adoptees, they have written letters to President Putin in hopes of negotiating with him personally, they have published letters in Russian newspapers letting the children know they have not forgotten them. Some have gone to Russia in hopes of finding Russian homes for the children they met and many have worked with Russian journalists to discuss the ban and the fate of the children left behind through documentary films and online and print news.
Some families have maintained contact with the orphanages and have sent presents and money for medical care. They are very grateful for these connections and the chance to received updates about the children they love. Others have had no contact and are left to search the database daily wondering if anyone has stepped forward to love the child they cannot forget.
We believe that every child deserves a family and children should not be kept in orphanages due to political disagreements. We welcome any ideas, connections or suggestions that might be able to improve the future prospects for these children.
December 2014 marks the second anniversary of the adoption ban and at least 40 of the original 300 'pipeline' children, who have already met and bonded with their prospective American families, are still in Russian orphanages. Most of these children have special needs that make it unlikely that they will be chosen for adoption again.
Since early 2013 the families who still desperately want to adopt these children have tried repeatedly to negotiate a pathway for the completion of their adoptions. They have traveled to Washington DC to propose ways to address some of the concerns the Russian Federation about the welfare of Russian adoptees, they have written letters to President Putin in hopes of negotiating with him personally, they have published letters in Russian newspapers letting the children know they have not forgotten them. Some have gone to Russia in hopes of finding Russian homes for the children they met and many have worked with Russian journalists to discuss the ban and the fate of the children left behind through documentary films and online and print news.
Some families have maintained contact with the orphanages and have sent presents and money for medical care. They are very grateful for these connections and the chance to received updates about the children they love. Others have had no contact and are left to search the database daily wondering if anyone has stepped forward to love the child they cannot forget.
We believe that every child deserves a family and children should not be kept in orphanages due to political disagreements. We welcome any ideas, connections or suggestions that might be able to improve the future prospects for these children.
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