http://shanghaiist.com/2009/04/17/devoted_parents_dont_give_up_on_los.phpI'm going to copy the article in case some time the link becomes in active.
Devoted Parents Don't give up on lost Children.
Hundreds of parents set to the streets on April 15th in a peaceful march, begging for help in finding their missing children. Originally reported by the New Express (translated by Danwei), the parents claim that about 1,000 children have gone missing from the Dongguan area since 2007. At their wits end, they've set out to draw more attention to the apparent, widespread abduction problem. Neither the New Express nor the Shanghai Daily piece on these families' plights suggest a reason for the kidnappings, but according to the New York Times, many of the children are being sold off to other Chinese families desperate for a male heir. The children, most of whom are young boys are also suspected of being sold to buyers in Vietnam, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
"Male heir" is probably one of the better outcome for these children, otherwise they often end up as indentured servants, for-hire beggars, or prostitutes. The lucky ones get sold to orphanages for adoption to wealthy foreigners.
The police at Wednesday's march appeared sympathetic to the parents' ordeal, escorting them peacefully down the street. According to a number of marchers however, the police and government have been mostly unhelpful in tracking down the missing children. In a case cited in the Shanghai Daily article, a child was located and brought to a local police station, but before his parent could claim him, an impersonator took the child as his own.
The Chinese government claims that total abductions number about 2,500 people per year including both women and children, but some non-profit organizations argue that the number might possibly be upwards of 100,000.
Either way, the number is too high. More attention needs to be paid to this issue both here in China and elsewhere in the world where human trafficking is an issue. Both buyers and sellers of other human beings need to be tracked down and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law
My comments
This is just too horrible.
My younger daughter is from Dongguan. I wonder how many of these children have ended up in orphanges for ICA. With previous scandals being uncovered in China, it's not inconceivable. Whenever money changes hands, I believe the possibilities for trafficking or other unethical practices are opened.
Guatemala, Vietnam, Cambodia, India, Ethiopia and China have all had at least occasional question marks. And when issues are initially raised, adoptive parents have risen up and loudly defended 'their program' and criticised the department /organisation raising the issue.... only to find, later, issues confirmed. Surely a better reaction would be to acknowledge the horror which would be should allegations be true - and to work with authorities to at least encourage investigation. We OWE this to our children - anything less is complicity. Like everything - demand triggers supply and if the 'consumer' demands changes, they will eventually happen....
As examples of what seem to be ethical adoptions, I look at programs such as some in Korea and Taiwan where birthmothers are known and work with the social workers - and Thailand where no money changes hands for the adoption.
While the situation in Guatemala is proof that DNA testing is not the total answer, I believe it is is a good start and it should be extended. It is not onerous or expensive. To be honest, I really can't see why most countries can't have a national database... Perhaps I am missing something with this...
Various forms of trafficking do exist - and need to be wiped out.. Perhaps universal DNA databases will go someway to assisting with eliminating the trafficking of children for adoption. Combine this with more a-parents standing up for ethical adoption and we may almost get there!
