The adoptions from Haiti, and the third world in general

[nadinbrzezinski]

there is a reason why there is a red tape on this. And pretty much this is happening...

Kids are disappearing, they do in any disaster, and taken into the Human trafficking network. Now, before somebody screams, but you are being racist! One case I was involved with was an American kid who was kidnapped at five from his home in OH... lets just say after recovery, IN Mexico no less, the people responsible had a few accidents in jail.

But this is the main reason for the red tape.

There is my personal issue with this practice... which goes back to studies in Colonialism, but at this point I am not so sure that looking into it is a bad idea given the scope of the disaster. That said, for all folks going... WHY? This is why. Again, tidbits CNN will not tell you.

Oh and what is done with these kids? Brothels come to mind, as well as slave work. Neither of those has ended in our modern world. These kids face a short, and quite brutish life.

I know what a downer of a post. But I wish CNN would go into this.

Oh and if you really want to learn about this very shady side of life...

Here you go...

http://www.humantrafficking.org/

Oh and that kid... we were able to reunite him with his family. I do hope he got the care he desperately needed.

[uppityperson]

1. As you say "I wish CNN would go into this."

what kid? Not watching any tv.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. They are talking of the adoptions and the red tape

for kids to finally enter the US and join parents.

Well TSA is doing the best they can to confirm the identity of each kid... dime on the dollar.

[babylonsister]

3. Haiti ripe for child-trafficking - UNICEF

I knew I had read about this. These are serious concerns; thanks for addressing them.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10622184


Haiti ripe for child-trafficking - UNICEF
12:58 PM Monday Jan 25, 2010


A New Zealand UNICEF organiser is warning that the Haiti quake is creating ideal conditions for child-traffickers to operate.

United Nations children's fund UNICEF is working to try and minimise the risk of child trafficking in the wake of the earthquake.

UNICEF said children had gone missing from hospitals in Haiti since the quake struck, raising fears of trafficking for adoption abroad.

UNICEF adviser Jean Luc Legrand said on Friday that about 15 cases of children disappearing from hospitals and not with their own family had been documented, and it was known that Haiti had an international network of child trading well before the quake struck.

UNICEF New Zealand executive director Dennis McKinlay said the huge damage and breakdown of normal society wrought by the quake had created ideal conditions for child traffickers to operate.

"UNICEF is aware of reports of children have been removed from Haiti without due process or the proper documentation. The Haitian Government has been informed of these reports and is investigating," Mr McKinlay said.

"We know from experience of past emergencies that trafficking takes place in the chaos that follows a natural disaster. Unscrupulous individuals prey on vulnerable children who may have become separated from family members. Children may be abducted to meet a demand for trafficked children as cheap labour or for sexual exploitation."

Article continues below

He said UNICEF was supporting the Government to boost its vigilance of exit points to prevent children being taken out of Haiti illegally.

The agency had joined with partners to start setting up safe spaces for all unaccompanied children, including infants.

"UNICEF is also pooling information and resources with 28 other agencies and Haitian authorities to protect children in Haiti, including the setting up of a child protection hotline," Mr McKinlay said.

"With the assistance of UN peacekeepers, hospitals have been visited to ensure that hospital staff members are aware of the need to check the credentials of anyone who removes a child."

Mr McKinlay said earlier that New Zealanders were making inquiries about adopting Haiti children lost or separated from their families, but warned against it.

"While people have the best of motives and really do want to help, it's wrong to think of vulnerable Haitian children as if they are lost puppies that can be rescued from an SPCA shelter."

Adoption was not a "quick fix" solution as the children could not be assumed to be orphans, Mr McKinlay said.

"It is difficult to determine the fate of their parents or close relatives immediately following a disaster and it has to be assumed for the moment they still have close relatives who are alive."

Adoption should be considered only after thorough attempts had been made to reunite children with family.

The best way for New Zealanders to help was to make a donation.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. But some people are still scraming that security

is not important.

This is nuts, and it gets really nuts.

The kids that are kidnapped for adoption face a far better fate than the ones that end up in other sectors of it, like slavery, and the sex trade.

[WolverineDG]

5. Thanks for saying that

funny how the ones saying there is no need for security forces don't care that kids are disappearing. I do hope that those kids are found.

dg

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. It is not that people don't care

people don't understand, and still believe in the well meaning of humanity.

Well when humans go down to Maslow's Pyramid of needs, people turn nasty.

[demmiblue]

7. I don't doubt you for a minute...

the same situation happened after the 2004 Tsunami. I remember the concern regarding the young there. Sickening and heartbreaking.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. And in any other disaster I can think off

during the floods I got to manage, kids that were separated from families were taken over by the STATE like this fast, and we ran family locator programs. We were able to reunite 100% of those kids with parents. Most parents were relieved, a couple were pissed that we took their kids, for lord knows what. (well I know lord knows what, but) Comes with the territory.... and that is one job well organized national societies and the ICRC does especially well.

It was a much smaller scope of a disaster... much smaller scope...

So it was possible. Hell I suspect some of the Katrina kids were not quite reunited for months. (And I hope 100 reunion was achieved. I really should have and did not look into that)

[applegrove]

9. There is so much red tape to stop child tafficking. Both sides of the

bureaucracy want kids to be safe.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. Exactly, but I wish our lovely media went into this

Those kids are also getting good and fun care from TSA. It was funny to see TSA agents playing with the kids,

Actually heart warming... to be exact.