The Dark Side of International Adoption

Corruption and scandal taint this once thriving practice.

Helping or Hurting? - Critics call it the baby business. Supporters consider it a second chance. The divisive institution that is international adoption continues to face an ever-growing number of corruption cases and subsequent overseas regulations, resulting in a nearly 50 percent drop over the past decade. Keep reading to learn more about this highly controversial practice. –Patrice Peck(Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

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Helping or Hurting? - Critics call it the baby business. Supporters consider it a second chance. The divisive institution that is international adoption continues to face an ever-growing number of corruption cases and subsequent overseas regulations, resulting in a nearly 50 percent drop over the past decade. Keep reading to learn more about this highly controversial practice. –Patrice Peck(Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

A Rising Trend - Although it first became popular after World War II, international adoption experienced a boom in the 1990s, due in large part to the global response to China’s one-child policy and the disastrous breakup of the Soviet Union in Russia.(Photo: Chris Hondros/Getty Images)

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A Rising Trend - Although it first became popular after World War II, international adoption experienced a boom in the 1990s, due in large part to the global response to China’s one-child policy and the disastrous breakup of the Soviet Union in Russia.(Photo: Chris Hondros/Getty Images)

The Rich and the Famous - Celebrities' adopting children from abroad have also been pointed to as influencers of the international adoption craze, giving the practice a trend-like quality.(Photos: Ray Tamarra/Getty Images; Kevin Winter/Getty Images; Doug Meszler/WENN.com)

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The Rich and the Famous - Celebrities' adopting children from abroad have also been pointed to as influencers of the international adoption craze, giving the practice a trend-like quality.(Photos: Ray Tamarra/Getty Images; Kevin Winter/Getty Images; Doug Meszler/WENN.com)

A Drastic Drop - Yet, since 2004, the once-rising number of overseas adoption has been in a steady, drastic decline. In many countries, the lucrative nature of the practice has led to rising corruption, regulations and the ultimate cancellation of the practice. (Photo: JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK/AFP/Getty Images)

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A Drastic Drop - Yet, since 2004, the once-rising number of overseas adoption has been in a steady, drastic decline. In many countries, the lucrative nature of the practice has led to rising corruption, regulations and the ultimate cancellation of the practice. (Photo: JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK/AFP/Getty Images)

Who's Monitoring International Adoption? - The Hague Adoption Convention was established in 1995 to offer a standard set of safety measures for international adoptions. While the pact involves requiring its 90 member nations to require 10 hours of training to adoptive hopefuls, there is virtually no home monitoring and not much recourse against abusive parents.(Photo: Courtesy of the US Department of State)

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Who's Monitoring International Adoption? - The Hague Adoption Convention was established in 1995 to offer a standard set of safety measures for international adoptions. While the pact involves requiring its 90 member nations to require 10 hours of training to adoptive hopefuls, there is virtually no home monitoring and not much recourse against abusive parents.(Photo: Courtesy of the US Department of State)

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The Vulnerable Victims - Earlier this month, Carri Williams, a U.S. adoptive mother, was found guilty of homicide after starving her 13-year-old Ethiopian-born daughter Hana Williams and locking her outside in the cold, where she died of hypothermia. William's husband was convicted of manslaughter. That tragic case and recent others, including the death of 3-year-old Russian adoptee Max Shatto, have spotlighted the dark side of international adoption.(Photo: Courtesy of ABC News)

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The Vulnerable Victims - Earlier this month, Carri Williams, a U.S. adoptive mother, was found guilty of homicide after starving her 13-year-old Ethiopian-born daughter Hana Williams and locking her outside in the cold, where she died of hypothermia. William's husband was convicted of manslaughter. That tragic case and recent others, including the death of 3-year-old Russian adoptee Max Shatto, have spotlighted the dark side of international adoption.(Photo: Courtesy of ABC News)

Forced into Adoption - When Ethiopia-born Tarikuwa Lemma and her young sisters came to America, they and their widowed father were under the impression that they would be participating in an educational exchange program. They would soon learn that they had fallen victim to an international adoption scandal, in which they were adopted by U.S. couples against their will. (Photo: Courtesy of MSNBC)

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Forced into Adoption - When Ethiopia-born Tarikuwa Lemma and her young sisters came to America, they and their widowed father were under the impression that they would be participating in an educational exchange program. They would soon learn that they had fallen victim to an international adoption scandal, in which they were adopted by U.S. couples against their will. (Photo: Courtesy of MSNBC)

Save the Children - “The American government will fund this Christian movement to take action immediately,” wrote Lemma in a satirical op-ed for The Grio. “It is our duty as Americans to help the children of Ethiopia and, in the future, the world. After all, every few minutes that we don’t help Ethiopia, another Ethiopian child is born.”(Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

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Save the Children - “The American government will fund this Christian movement to take action immediately,” wrote Lemma in a satirical op-ed for The Grio. “It is our duty as Americans to help the children of Ethiopia and, in the future, the world. After all, every few minutes that we don’t help Ethiopia, another Ethiopian child is born.”(Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Vietnam - The U.S. stopped accepting adoptions from Vietnam in 2008 following an investigation into allegations of baby-selling and kidnapping. Adoption lobby groups and senators have been calling for an end to this ban. (Photo: HOANG DINH NAM/AFP/Getty Images)

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Vietnam - The U.S. stopped accepting adoptions from Vietnam in 2008 following an investigation into allegations of baby-selling and kidnapping. Adoption lobby groups and senators have been calling for an end to this ban. (Photo: HOANG DINH NAM/AFP/Getty Images)

An Advocate for Adoption Abroad - Sen. Mary Landrieu, an outspoken supporter of the practice and an adoptive mother of two, told AP in February that “the urgent need of children living in institutions needed to be considered.” (Photo: Times-Picayune /Landov)

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An Advocate for Adoption Abroad - Sen. Mary Landrieu, an outspoken supporter of the practice and an adoptive mother of two, told AP in February that “the urgent need of children living in institutions needed to be considered.” (Photo: Times-Picayune /Landov)

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Guatemala - Once a predominant provider for children from overseas adoption from 1996 to 2007, Guatemala became a notorious site for adoption corruption, coercion and child trafficking, with babies being bought from women in rural areas and other scandals. As a result, international adoptions were abruptly terminated in the Central American country in 2008, leaving many prospective parents in limbo. (Photo: JOHAN ORDONEZ/AFP/Getty Images)

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Guatemala - Once a predominant provider for children from overseas adoption from 1996 to 2007, Guatemala became a notorious site for adoption corruption, coercion and child trafficking, with babies being bought from women in rural areas and other scandals. As a result, international adoptions were abruptly terminated in the Central American country in 2008, leaving many prospective parents in limbo. (Photo: JOHAN ORDONEZ/AFP/Getty Images)

Cambodia - In addition to Vietnam and Guatemala, the U.S. State Department currently refuses to accept adoptions from Cambodia. Officials say the ban is meant to pressure these countries to implement safety measures so that children with biological relatives who can care for them are not sent abroad. (Photo: Jerry Redfern/LightRocket via Getty Images)

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Cambodia - In addition to Vietnam and Guatemala, the U.S. State Department currently refuses to accept adoptions from Cambodia. Officials say the ban is meant to pressure these countries to implement safety measures so that children with biological relatives who can care for them are not sent abroad. (Photo: Jerry Redfern/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Haiti - In the frenzied aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Laura Lilsby, the founder of the Idaho-based New Life Children’s Refuge, led nine fellow American Baptist missionaries to the Caribbean nation to rescue orphans. After a failed attempt to leave the country with 33 children without proper legal documentation, the Americans spent about three months in a Haiti jail.(Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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Haiti - In the frenzied aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Laura Lilsby, the founder of the Idaho-based New Life Children’s Refuge, led nine fellow American Baptist missionaries to the Caribbean nation to rescue orphans. After a failed attempt to leave the country with 33 children without proper legal documentation, the Americans spent about three months in a Haiti jail.(Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

More Money, More Problems - While appalling corruption cases and scandals continue to shed light on the vulnerability of children involved in international adoption practices, the number of orphans worldwide has grown. Advocates of international adoption insist that instead of terminating the institution, more limits need to placed on adoption agencies to prevent the problems, which stem from the practice’s lucrative nature.(Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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More Money, More Problems - While appalling corruption cases and scandals continue to shed light on the vulnerability of children involved in international adoption practices, the number of orphans worldwide has grown. Advocates of international adoption insist that instead of terminating the institution, more limits need to placed on adoption agencies to prevent the problems, which stem from the practice’s lucrative nature.(Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)