IAC: International Advocates for Children

Hope for World Orphans!

International Advocates for Children, (IAC) was established 2001, in Atlanta, Georgia. It was established as an independent, non-profit human rights organization for orphaned and abandoned children worldwide. In January 2006, the IAC headquarters were moved to The Hague, Netherlands. IAC may also undergo a formal name change in the near future to better reflect the full mission of the organization.

IAC feels children who are deprived of the guidance and protection of their primary caregivers are more vulnerable to health risks, violence, exploitation and discrimination and they are often deprived of education. Their vision was to strive to guard the fundamental needs of this disadvantaged population by engaging in advocacy, education, problem analysis, and the development of solutions based on sound research that can be applied by countries and NGO’s worldwide.

Its mission is to serve the best interest of children without parental care worldwide, by reducing the number of children without parental care. Whenever adults must make life-altering decisions for children, they believe there is a simple and universally agreed upon rule to help guide them: ALL decisions should correspond to the best interest of the child (BIC). 

Personally, I became involved with IAC in the spring of 2004 after its Executive Director contacted me due to my experience within the foster care system and my passion to see its transformation into a system based on BIC. Through our discussion I conveyed I would be willing to serve IAC as an “Advocacy Ambassador.”

I made a trip to Atlanta in the summer of that year to learn more about IAC and its vision to better the lives of those most vulnerable in society. I also made a presentation to their Board of Directors and staff.

I left Atlanta convinced that IAC’s vision matched very well with my own mission.