Corruption has many shapes and the higher one gets, the more blatant and at the same time subtle it becomes.
No one would really accept if tobacco companies made public health policies. In the area of child adoption, however, society accepts this. Let’s have a closer look.
The Players:
Organisations:
1) International Social Service (ISS) = an adoption agency network.
2) Hague Conference on Private International Law.
Person:
Hans van Loon. Secretary General of the Permanent Bureau of the Hague Conference on Private International Law.
During the time of the drafting of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, it became clear that intercountry adoptions would be over. So the adoption mob found a willing collaborator in the Netherlands. The Hague Conference on Private International Law. There is more to this process, but that is for another blog.
First we have a look at the CV of Hans van Loon:
Member of the Permanent Bureau (the scientific secretariat) of the Hague Conference on Private International Law:
– Secretary (since 15 September 1978)
– First Secretary at the Permanent Bureau (since 6 January 1988)
– Secretary General of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (since 30 June 1996).
During the same time Hans van Loon was:
Member of the Council of International Social Service, Geneva (1986-2003).
Member of the Board of the Dutch branch of International Social Service (1985-1994).
We can conclude that the ISS and the Hague Conference on Private International Law are linked.
An adoption agency network and a body who makes laws.
Let´s translate it into tobacco.
Consider a scenario where a tobacco company and the World Health Organization are intertwined through one of WHO’s high-ranking managers, and the tobacco company initiates a WHO campaign titled “healthy and ethical smoking.” Many would undoubtedly find this situation deeply concerning. However, the plot thickens even further.
But the plot even thickens more.
Here is a LINK to a letter by the former Secretary-General, Hans van Loon, begging the Central Adoption Authorities of the so-called receiving countries for money for International Social Service.
So, the top official of the Hague Permanent Bureau requests direct state support for the International Social Service, of which he is a Council member.
Is that abuse of power?
You know what? To this day, many Central Authorities pay ISS in exchange for the ISS newsletter and access to the ISS database. In 2017, it amounted to approximately 375,000 Swiss Francs (about €350,000).
Mr. Hans van Loon in his dual position has provided the seeds for the pro-adoption biassed Hague position on the subsidiarity principle that gets internationally promoted by ISS.
Surprised that the industry sees adoption and ‘permanency’ as “best interest” of children?
The Hague Adoption Convention, just what the experts order