Helsinki Commission to Examine Impact of Romania's Adoptions Policy

WASHINGTON - Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), Chairman of the United States Helsinki Commission, announced that the Commission will hold a hearing on the impact of Romania's newly implemented ban on inter-country adoptions:

IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILDREN?

ROMANIA'S BAN ON INTER-COUNTRY ADOPTION

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

2237 Rayburn House Office Building

The featured panelists will be:

Panel I

Maura Harty, Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs, U.S. Department of State

Panel II

Sorin Ducaru, Ambassador of Romania to the United States

Panel III

Thomas Atwood, President & CEO, National Council for Adoption

Debra Murphy-Scheumann, President of the Board of Directors, Joint Council on International Children's Services

Dr. Dana Johnson, Director of the International Adoption Clinic, University of Minnesota

Elliot Forsyth, Waiting to adopt Romanian child