Who can report?

Everyone can make a report. Whether you have just learned you were trafficked, or known all your life, you are not alone. If you learn that someone was adopted, or wants to buy a human life as an embryo, infant, child or adult, know that is an act of human trafficking. Victims of adoption trafficking may talk about having two birth certificates, or being rehomed, renamed, or worried about their lack of citizenship, or searching for their “birthparents.”

AATT Global monitors and tracks reports of adoption trafficking activities and does not respond to individual adoption trafficking reports. The goal of collecting these reports is to better understand the nature of adoption trafficking and to assist with developing well-informed advocacy efforts locally and internationally.

What are adoption trafficking activities?

Trafficking through and for adoption is complex and normalized in our society. Actions and words that come from personal bias, brainwashing or propaganda are often pro-adoption, celebratory and judgmental. “Adoption is in the best interest of the child” has been used in numerous arguments presented by people of all backgrounds, socioeconomic status and political standing. “Adoption is an option” is inherent in our society, whether in the media, movies, TV, books or social media. Child welfare or child protection workers may talk about “terminating parental rights” in order to make the child adoptable. Adoption trafficking does not always have to involve the adoption process directly as we have all been conditioned to live in a global culture of coercion that has accepted trafficking through and for adoption as a legalized process. Adoption trafficking activities may include:

• Child kidnapping/abduction

• Recruiting and coercing a mother to “give up her child for adoption”

• Recruiting and coercing a person to “create a family through adoption”

• Propositioning a mother to buy her child/embryo with or without an agency

• Exploiting mothers and children to promote the need to adopt

How will my information be used?

Our reporting form is anonymous, and confidential. Your personal information will never be shared with a third party without your expressed consent. Reports of adoption trafficking activities helps to identify what it is, when it occurs, where, who is targeted and how it affects our population and society locally and globally. Reports will inform our collective understanding and direct our research towards more effective advocacy.

We will never share your personally identifiable information, such as name, phone number, or email address. Additionally, we will never share detailed information about individual reports externally, with the exception of anonymized anecdotes where you have given us explicit consent to share your story.

After you submit your report the AATT Global team reviews and categorizes it to identify patterns and overall picture of adoption trafficking. The reports you have provided remain anonymous when we share anecdotal data and data summaries.

What else can I do?

Identifying adoption trafficking is something everyone can do and must do. It is a crime that has been normalized and legalized. Here’s what you can do:

1. Educate yourself. The adoption trafficking industry has operated globally for hundreds of years, locally, nationally and internationally. Contact us for resources and information. AATT Global is also available to provide presentations and workshops in specific areas of the adoption trafficking industry.

2. Become a member of the Anti-Adoption Trafficking Taskforce and help raise awareness, provide education and advocate for social justice.

3. Host a screening of an adoption trafficking video or film. Host an event, presentation, panel discussion at your school, business or community center.

4. Get social. Use your social media platforms for good. Raise awareness, educate, and get creative.