Newzity

There is a high chance if you got the child from Vietnam. In a nine-page report U.S. Embassy says that Vietnam has failed to prevent illegal and unethical practice of baby sold for adoption. Corruption and fraud are on the raise for the lucrative child adoption black market.

In 2003, U.S. imposed ban on all adoption from Vietnam due to corruption. The ban was lifted in 2006, and since then there is a boom in adoption from Vietnam. Angelina Jolie’s much publicized adoption fueled the fire. In the first 18 months since the ban was lifted a total of 1,200 babies were adopted by American families. That is more than two babies per day. In 2007 the adoption jumped more than 400 percent. The adoption also has become a lucrative business. American couples are ready to pay $25,000 for a baby, and some agencies pay $10,000 of that money to the Vietnamese orphanages. The increase in demand and the lure of the money have helped flourish a black market. People are scouring villages to buy babies; hospitals are coercing poor mothers to give up infants and then selling them; relatives are giving away babies for money without parents’ permission. The babies are sold to the brokers for as little as $400 dollars, and they sell it to the orphanages for a few thousands making a huge profit. Given the lucrative nature of the business, Vietnam government is not doing much to stop it.

Fortunately the current agreement expires in September, and it is not expected to be renewed. U.S. will impose the ban again, at least for a short time.

It is an irony that parents with good intentions are helping the black market to flourish and hurting the babies they wanted to help in the first place.