[CEE]

I got an e-mail from the adoption agency we used asking for our help and I just wanted to get the word out.

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Hi all,
The adoption situation in Tajikistan is again unstable for the children in need of loving families and homes. I wanted to give you some background information on a specific situation in Tajikistan and ask for help in helping these children, current and future, become adopted.

Recently, there was a little girl in Tajikistan that has been adopted by an American family. The court preceding took place and the adoption was finalized. The mother traveled from the US to Almaty to pick up her beautiful little girl, but was not permitted to leave the country with her daughter. All paperwork has been processed, including the Visa, etc. The major of the city of Khundjand has come forward in an attempt to stop international adoptions of Tajikistan children stating that "it is better for the children to die in Tajikistan, then to give them up to the United States". This is an atrocity and such an blatant violation of human rights. In effort to draw attention to this atrocity and help the children of Tajik, we have worked with a children's advocacy group and drafted a letter that we hope many (hundreds) of people will sign and send to the congressmen of their district, as well as the White House (president@whitehouse.gov and vice.president@whitehouse.gov) and the US Embassy in Tajikistan (
DushanbeConsular@state.gov)

[CEE]

Urgent Call for Immediate Action


Dear Congressman (name)

It has come to my attention that there are severe violations of human rights taking place in the Republic of Tajikistan right now, as you read this letter.

Two US families are not allowed to bring home their new children from the Republic of Tajikistan after receiving the approval for their adoptions in both countries. Despite the ruling by the local court finalizing the adoption, the mayor of the city of Khudjand is not allowing the families to take their newly adopted children home. When the representative of one of these US families asked for the reasons why the family could not take the child home, the answer given was, "It is better for the children to die in Tajikistan, then to be given up to the United States." There are documented cases of children dying in the orphanages of the Republic Tajikistan. Our government is providing over $20 million in aid to the Republic of Tajikistan, and we, as taxpayers and law-abiding citizens, are outraged by our government's support of such a lawless state as the Republic of Tajikistan. Their contempt for our citizens is unacceptable; our fellow citizens are "trapped" and require your immediate assistance.

Please, Mr. (Congressman's name), contact Mrs. Elizabeth Jones, U.S Assistant Secretary of State and ask her to intervene on behalf of these families and the children. The two families should be allowed to bring their children home, and the process of the international adoptions should continue for other families, who give the orphans a chance to live rather than die, imprisoned by their own government.

Thank you, in advance, for your support.


Sincerely,

Signature

City and State

Please, be sure to send copies to:

The White House at: president@whitehouse.gov & vice.president@whitehouse.gov
The United States Embassy in Tajikistan at:

DushanbeConsular@state.gov

[Jenn33199]

http://www.house.gov/writerep/