Child Laundering

 

In 2001, Cambodia shut down international adoptions after allegations of child trafficking came to light.   There were reports of children stolen from their families, given forged documents, and placed for international adoption.   Recently, similar allegations have emerged from Guatemala and China.

What if it was your child who had been trafficked, the one who is begging you for a cookie and currently emptying the contents of your purse on the floor?  What if you found out that everything you were told about your son or daughter's adoption was ... a lie.  That there is a family out there mourning the loss of a child, because of you.

Think it doesn't happen?  It does.* Over and over again.

And what should we, as a world society, do about this?  Do you return your child?  Develop an international open adoption of sorts?  Should the country of origin suspend all adoptions, if even one child was stolen?  Would it stop the trafficking, or would children still be stolen and traded for the sex trade? 

What do you think?

* Read Desiree's blog, Fleasbiting, for in-depth coverage of child laundering and other adoption ethics issues.