THIS BLOG WILL NO LONGER BE UPDATED,

but will continue here: Romania for Export Only BLOG

President Basescu at the European Commission, 22 April 2010

Friday, 25 April 2008

Vietnamese 'Orphans' - For Export Only

The US have investigated the Vietnamese adoption system. The outcome is devastating, but to me no surprise. I recognised much of the Romanian 'orphans', created 'For Export Only'.

Since Vietnam and the US sigened a Memorandum of Understanding in 2005 to re-open adoptions (suspended since 2002 because of corruption), the number of adoptable 'oprhans had exploded. Now why was that?

- obligatory donations (= MONEY) of adoption agencies to orphanges
- in return for these donations children needed to be given

Hence the demand created the offer. Just like the Romanian 'point system'.

As a result:

the children's background often got faked

parents were paid to place their children in orphanages

parents were told their child would return home at a certain age, or will send them money from the US

children were picked up from the streets by 'child finders; and, against money, handed to orphanages

The advertisements placed to locate the parents, were done in such a way that it was rather unlikely for the parents to see

maternity homes had links with orphanages and paid for children

when mothers could not pay a hospital bill, their child would go for adoption


The same story all over again. Similar stories, or some of the elements, could be found in Romania, and can be found in Guatemala, China, Ethiopia and other countries were children can be found for adoption.

Children are not 'waiting' to be adopted, they are not abandoned and in need to be rescued. No, they are 'found' and declared abandoned, because of the demand for adoption.

The countries that adopt from Vietnam: Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and last but not least: the US.

AP Exclusive: US report alleges baby-selling, corruption in adoptions from Vietnam

A summary of the US report can be read on the US Embassy's website

1 comment:

Gershom Kaligawa said...

Really great post!! Very true! I have been researching adoptions in Guatemala and comparing them to Vietnam and the reports from there in the media and on blogs etc. There are so many striking parallels, the same you mention here between Vietnam and Romania. Some of these agencies do business in many countries, same schemes different locations and different governments. Nobody is regulating them and the ones who are caught get slaps on the wrist. Its infuriating.

Free Counter and Web Stats