U.S. Embassy Facilitates Visit of Hague Conference Regional Representative to Support Child Protection Efforts in Jamaica

As part of the United States’ continued support for international efforts to protect children, the U.S. Embassy in Kingston facilitated a visit by Ignacio Goicoechea, Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean at the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH), from September 9–11, 2026 to engage key local stakeholders on advancing Jamaica’s adoption safeguards and strengthen cross-border child protections.

Children are at the heart of why we are here, and their safety and well-being must remain our collective priority. As a former public defender and, later, through my work with the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues, I have seen firsthand why protecting children requires early action, strong systems and collaboration, – said Chargé d’Affaires Scott Renner.

During his visit, Mr. Goicoechea participated in a series of U.S. Embassy-facilitated meetings with Jamaican government officials responsible for overseeing the country’s child-protection services and its engagement with international protocols on children’s issues. These engagements brought together ministry-level and working-level representatives from the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth, and Information; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade; the Ministry of Justice; the Judiciary; the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA); and the Office of the Children’s Advocate, along with civil society stakeholders including the Adoption Board, to discuss shared priorities for strengthening child-protection systems.

Every child has the fundamental right to a family. When a child cannot be placed in a foster or adoptive home within their country of origin, the HCCH 1993 Intercountry Adoption Convention provides the essential framework. These safeguards ensure that cross-border adoptions are conducted with the utmost transparency, always respecting and prioritizing the best interests of the child, – said Mr. Goicoechea.

The visit builds on the United States’ long-standing engagement with Jamaica on child welfare issues and reflects the strong partnership between both countries. The United States remains a consistent supporter of international efforts to protect children globally, including through cooperation on child-protection frameworks and standards.