Compromize and Controversy over Global Intercountry Adoption: A Comparative Analysis of Adoption in Haiti, Chad, Southeast Asian Countries, and Cambodia

Year 2011, Volume: 10 Issue: 1, 21 - 35, 01.02.2011

Kieran E. Uchehara

Abstract

Authorities in belligerent countries are now faced with a new problem: modern warfare and natural disasters. Between 2001 and 2010, four relatively publicized adoption related cases have caused some Third World countries to revitalize their concerns over the rights of children in such cases of adoption, mainly the New Life Children’s Refuge (NLCR) in Haiti, the Zoe’s Ark in Chad, the Katherine Hart case in Southeast Asian countries, and the twelve United States adoptive parents’ case in Cambodia. The thesis of this paper is that there are systemic vulnerabilities and gaps in the current global adoption systems across the Third World Countries, thus creating irregularities and scandals that are predictable to an extent, such as the ones in the four cases under consideration. An investigation will be made as to some of the lessons that can be drawn there from. In the end, this paper concludes by highlighting that, although the four do not hint at the full picture of complications that may arise as a result of global adoption in their corresponding regions, they do, indeed, bear important ramifications, ones that are ignored at the cost of the well-being of children involved.

Keywords

global adoptions, non-governmental organization, child rescue, abduction, child trafficking, Third World Countries