Because of pop culture it seems as if everyone is adopting internationally. Celebrities such as Brangelina, Madonna, Meg Ryan, and most recently Charlize Theron. The TV show Modern Family also features a gay couple who adopted a daughter, Lily, from Asia. But, despite all the attention in pop culture, recent statistics came out that showed that international adoptions in America are at a 15 year low.
The number one scare about adopting international i s the fear that the child might be a victim of child trafficking. The fact that by adopting a child parents helped to take their child away from their family rather than just trying to provide a better life for a the child. The latest international adoption gone wrong involves a young Guatemalan girl who was allegedly kidnapped as a child and brought to the U.S. to be adopted. Currently the United States refuses to return the girl because at the time of the adoption the U.S. and Guatemala had not signed the Hague Abduction Convention. I can only imagine what the adoptive parents are going through knowing that their daughter had a mom who loved her combined with the thought that their daughter might not be able to be their daughter anymore. It's enough to make any prospective adoptive parent nervous.
Dr. Jane Aronson, the CEO of Worldwide Orphas Foundation, sites a Glopbal Orphan Crisis as being the trouble with international adoption, not trafficking. She believe that instead of pouring money into good adoption practices the money should go towards helping the mothers or families giving up their children.
There are a lot of opinions, both positive and negative, about international adoption. No matter where you stand on the issue the fact stands that there are thousands of kids all over the world who are waiting to find their forever families and adoption should always looked at as a positive.
That being said, how do you feel about international adoption vs. domestic adoption?
Thanks for this article. Couples that want to adopt internationally must research international adoption laws. If laws regarding international adoption are overwhelming to comprehend, then a lawyer can help. Something important to know is that many strict international adoption regulations are in place for the child’s safety and to prevent them from ending up in the custody of abusers. My husband and I went to Thailand two years ago and fell in love with a special needs baby boy. We have been working tirelessly with a Thailand family lawyer, and hope to bring him home by the year’s end. Couples who wish to adopt internationally should not be discouraged by all of the roadblocks, and more importantly, they should not go into the process with expectations based on misinformation or legal ignorance. Every obstacle in the way of adoption is painful, but it’s crucial to keep seeking support and advice.
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