Adoption as trafficking ploy

By TJ Burgonio

August 17, 2011 / Global Nation Inquirer

Child welfare experts from the United States, Europe, Australia and the Philippines are meeting in Makati beginning today (Wednesday) to tackle inter-country adoption as a means to curb the trafficking of Filipino children.

There have been reports that adoption is being used as a means to traffick Filipino children abroad.

The experts will discuss current trends in adoption and their experiences in addressing child-trafficking issues in their countries, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman said.

The three-day consultation, organized by the Inter-Country Adoption Board (Icab) and the Association of Child Caring Agencies of the Philippines, opens today at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati.

The idea behind the meeting is to “deepen the awareness of countries adopting Filipino children,” said Karina Javier of the social marketing service of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).