Local charity discusses Russian adoption ban


By Holt International
Eugene based chairty

We at Holt are deeply saddened by the law recently passed in Russia banning the adoption of Russian children by United States citizens. Although Holt does not currently have an adoption program in Russia and this ban will not affect any families adopting through Holt, our hearts go out to the families in process of adopting a child from Russia – and most of all, to the 740,000 children now living in Russian institutions, many of whom have lost their opportunity to grow up in a permanent, loving family because of this ban.

On January 1, 2013, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution that expresses disappointment over the recent passage of the adoption ban and urges the Russian government to reconsider the law. Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) is the staunch adoption advocate who sponsored the resolution. As Landrieu recently told the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, “Whatever issues our two governments may be facing, there is no political reason to put vulnerable children in the middle of political posturing. Children should be raised by parents, not in orphanages, institutions or alone on the street.”

Shortly after the ban was announced, news station KMTR in Eugene, Oregon interviewed Holt’s VP of policy and external affairs, Susan Soonkeum Cox, as well as a Holt family in process to adopt from Ethiopia. Click below to view the news segment.


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