Child trafficking : the taboo of illegal adoptions in Brazil, India and China

Abstract

Adoptions should always be carried out in the best interests of the children and with respect to heir fundamental rights : avoiding their sale and abduction by identifying vulnerable people who live in stressful economic situations. Unfortunately, nowadays, children are being purchased from their families, orphanages and hospitals to fulfil the high demand for infants from childless Western couples. As a consequence, different organised criminal groups often falsify birth documents to hide the children’s identity and make them legally adoptable. This negatively affects the life of a child who sees his/her identity and origins completely erased and stolen. Many are, in fact, the actors involved in this black market ; intermediaries such as lawyers, judges, doctors and clerks are bribed and corrupted to approve illegal inter-country adoptions. The dissertation explores the different attempts made by specific countries in fighting against child trafficking and illegal adoptions using a desk-based qualitative methodology. It analyses, not only the normative framework into place but also some economic and social aspects which are the roots of the problem itself. This research also presents two theories, which attempt in explaining what lies behind child trafficking and illegal adoptions, furthermore, some of the most used methods of trafficking and common patterns will be examined, through the discussion of three real case studies. The different case studies of Brazil, India and China helped in focusing on specific aspects of the inter-country adoption process, which are frequently left hidden to the public.