A government agency which monitors and prevents human trafficking has proposed creating an agency that would investigate suspected human trafficking activity. The agency has also recommended amending trafficking laws to include men and unborn children.

"Trafficking in unborn children was first uncovered after a scandal in Ha Tay Province involving the trafficking and sale of infants for adoption broke out in February... Seeking windfall profits, [Nguyen Thi] Thuyen and her husband had for years convinced young unwed pregnant women to not have an abortion... Thuyen then resold the newborns for a high price."

Since 2003, Vietnam has had a law against trafficking women and children, but no law currently exists regarding men or infants. Source: Vietnam Bridge

Labels: human-trafficking, governments

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Three months after a French charity tried to fly a group of children out of Chad, the Republic of Congo has lifted a ban on international adoptions. The ban went into effect on October 31st as a "preventative measure."

"At least one human rights group in Republic of Congo has been calling for action on suspected child trafficking in the country since August. The head of that group, Loamba Moke, said he was glad the government was taking action to assure the safety of adopted children, but called for tougher laws in the prosecution of child trafficking networks."

Workers from the French charity Zoe's Ark have been sentenced to eight years in jail as a result of the incident. Read more at IHT.com.

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Labels: international, governments

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In June, the U.S. government warned Americans against adopting children from Guatemala, citing a lack of government oversight. Then, in August, Guatemalan authorities raided an "orphanage" where 46 children were living and awaiting adoption. Currently, the adoption process is not controlled by the government, but by private lawyers who, some speculate, are able to complete the process quickly because they bribe officials and buy babies.

"The lawyers find babies, obtain power of attorney from the mothers, secure governmental adoption approval, arrange housing for infants pending paperwork and deliver the children to the new parents. Foster parents and doctors are paid by the lawyers."

After the August raid, several adoption lawyers took out newspaper ads protesting the government's interference. The Guatemalan government also ratified the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoptions, which will take effect in January and force the adoption process to become more centralized. In addition, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services says it will more closely scrutinize visa applications for children from Guatemala, to ensure that adoptions are being handled appropriately.

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Labels: laws, governments

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