Intercountry Adoption and Child Trafficking Concerns: The Need for Stricter International Cooperation

Juvenile Law By 0

This research paper, titled “Intercountry Adoption and Child Trafficking Concerns: The Need for Stricter International Cooperation,” critically examines how intercountry adoption, originally intended as a humanitarian solution for orphaned children, has become vulnerable to systemic abuse and child trafficking. It explores the legal and institutional shortcomings of international frameworks such as the Hague Convention (1993) and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), emphasizing the exploitation caused by falsified documentation, profit-driven intermediaries, and weak enforcement. Through analysis of global case studies, the paper identifies systemic gaps like poor data tracking, inadequate monitoring, and jurisdictional conflicts. It proposes comprehensive reforms including a Global Adoption Integrity System (GAIS), enhanced bilateral cooperation, stricter financial regulation, and survivor-centered justice mechanisms. Ultimately, the paper advocates for a transparent, ethical, and child-centered global adoption system rooted in accountability and international solidarity.