lots of good stuff from the 보건복지부
March 29, 2007
March 28, 2007
Latest AFCARS report
Number of children in U.S. foster care on September 30, 2005: 513,000
Number waiting for adoption: 114,000
Number living in group homes and institutions: 94,650
Largest single ethnic group represented: White/Non-Hispanic: 208,537 (41%)
Largest age group of children entering foster care: 1 year and under: 67,935 (22%)
March 21, 2007
Serbia-Trafficking in Children for Adoption
Interesting how this progresses right along…
Criminal Code of the Republic of Serbia
The newly adopted Criminal Code of the Republic of Serbia, which came into force on January 1, 2006, contains several incriminations interesting for this research: trafficking in human beings, trafficking in children for adoption, holding in slavery and transportation of enslaved persons.
These criminal offenses are comprised in Chapter XXXIV – Criminal offences against humanity and other rights guaranteed by international law. The legislator took into account the Roma Statute of the International Criminal Court, which classifies trafficking in human beings among the gravest crimes – crimes against humanity.
Trafficking in Human Beings – Article 388
Whoever by force or threat, deception or maintaining deception, abuse of authority, trust, dependency relationship, difficult circumstances of another, retaining identity papers or by giving or accepting money or other benefit, recruits, transports, transfers, sells, buys, acts as intermediary in sale, hides or holds another person with intent to exploit such person’s labor, forced labor, commission of offences, prostitution, mendacity, pornography, removal of organs or body parts or service in armed conflicts, shall be punished by imprisonment of two to twelve years.
Trafficking in Children for Adoption – Article 389
Whoever abducts a child under fourteen years of age for the purpose of adoption contrary to laws in force or whoever adopts such a child or mediates in such adoption or whoever for that purpose buys, sells or hands over another person under fourteen years of age or transports such a person, provides accommodation or conceals such a person, shall be punished by imprisonment of one to five years.
Holding in Slavery and Transportation of Enslaved Persons – Article 390
Whoever in violation of international law enslaves another person or places a person in similar position, or holds a person in slavery or similar position, or buys, sells, hands over to another or mediates in buying, selling and handing over of such person or induces another to sell his freedom or freedom of persons under his support or care, shall be punished by imprisonment of one to ten years.
I found these Serbian laws in a publication called Human (Child) Trafficking: A Look Through the Internet Window created by ASTRA, whose research was supported by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE Mission to Serbia). I’ve excerpted, so please go to the link if you want to read the whole thing.
ASTRA is non-governmental organization dedicated to eradication of all forms of trafficking in human beings, especially in women and children, through overall approach in resolving this problem, with the aim of elimination of this specific form of violence by affirming society free of all forms of exploitation, violence, discrimination, economic and social inequalities.
March 20, 2007
State Department advises against further U.S. adoptions from Guatemala
Citing rampant problems of fraud and extortion, the State Department says it no longer recommends that Americans adopt children from Guatemala — the No. 2 source of orphans coming to the United States.
