New report of child slavery in China

Yahoo! reported last week on the latest investigation in China of child slavery. In a recent raid in Guangdong Province, hundreds of children were rescused from factories where they were being treated as virtual slaves.

I think it's interesting to consider that while these children were working unpaid for years at a time, what the economic considerations were for their parents to submit their children to such a life. Was this better than where they were? Were the economic needs of their parents so severe that selling their child was the only option?

Child slavery, child trafficking and infant abandonment all stem from one place in China - the one child policy. However, let's not think that this is a situation that is unique to China. Child trafficking and slavery, is occuring all over the world. While the press is focused on China due to changes in adoption laws, and the upcoming Olympics, we need to remember that this is not a Chinese issue, but rather a WW issue.

That being said, the attention is on China. I look forward to seeing how Beijing will respond to this latest round of press, and what steps will be taken within the country to put an end to trafficking of children.

A Desperate Search for Stolen Children

In an article published by the Washington Post yesterday, there is more light being shed on child abduction and trafficking in China. Unfortunately, authorities and the government are doing nothing to protect their citizens and children, and often police look the other way or are paid off by those who have kidnapped children and adults.



With the Beijing Olympics only a few months away, I hope that we see more and more of these articles. It's hard to get attention on them, and I sincerely hope that all of the press in China will allow for these issues to be explored. Either they can deal iwth the issue, or their system will eventually implode on itself. The people cannot continue to be pushed down for so long -the rumblings of discontent will flare up again. I say good luck, and godspeed.

Adoption Issues in the News

Headline: 66 Nigerians Held on Trafficking Charges
Serious adoption irregulaties found with Nigerian women living in Italy, would take children from orphanages and sell the infants in Europe.

Headline: Costa Rico Nabs 14 in Adoption Scheme
14 arrested in Costa Rico as it appears they were paying mothers to relinquish their children for adoption.

Headline: Driver Says Man Couldn’t Care for Baby Girl
In the recent child abandonment case that hit national headlines, the father who abandoned his child told the cab driver that he could not care for the child and that the birthmother had already left.

China's Stolen Children

China’s Stolen Children is an HBO documentary showing how the one-child policy has created a booming trade in stolen children.

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Life on the street: Cairo

Very interesting article on young girls on the street in Cairo. Traffiking is such a huge issue, and I'm not sure when folks will deal with it.