After the offensive series CBC Manitoba did this past week on international adoption entitled “Buy Babies: adopting babies overseas”, I did not think they could do more harm to the issues. After all, the title alone is shocking and sensationalist. However, with tonight’s documentary on The National proved me wrong.
Let me reiterate what I have said a lot over the last few days. We applaud CBC’s desire to expose the challenges of international adoption, even seeking to expose the corruption in some cases. As an adoptive parent and someone involved with international relief work, I want nothing more than for international adoption to be done only when necessary and beneficial, always keeping the child’s best interest in mind. Again, we applaud CBC for this good intention.
What we cannot accept is the unprofessional and sensationalist approach that was taken in both of these stories. The National story specifically deals with the Canadian agency Canadian Advocates For Adopting Children (CAFAC) and their Ethiopian program. Not only are we adopting from Ethiopia ourselves, but we are doing so through CAFAC. I say this to demonstrate that what I share is from first hand experience and a great deal of research.
In the report, CAFAC receives a very harsh criticism with misleading editing and unsubstantiated claims. If you saw the series, here are some FACTS you need to keep in mind:
• CAFAC has processed nearly 500 international adoptions, almost 300 in Ethiopia and has a successful track record with nearly all of our clients (we are aware of only 2 formal complaints). It should also be noted that CAFAC cannot even respond publicly to the specifics of those cases, as they legal are bound to protect the children and families. So while the families can go to the press, they know CAFAC cannot share the whole truth. As an insider to the process, the story they tell in the documentary is creatively incomplete. In fact, some of details the parents interviewed have made public in the story and online is completely inappropriate.
• CAFAC is licensed, and fully compliant, with all laws and regulations of the Manitoba Ministry of Family Services and Housing and the Ethiopian Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Foreign Affairs The Ethiopian Ministry of Women’s Affairs issued a letter dated March 11, 2009 (attached) that states CAFAC and its foster home are “operating in Ethiopia according to the existing law, rules and regulation of the country
in the area of adoption.” In other words, they are not being “watched” as a potential threat by Ethiopian gov’t. ALL agencies are being examined by this group.
• CAFAC does not support spanking or corporal punishment. While it is a generally accepted practice in Ethiopian culture we continue to work towards eliminating it. The interviews give little clarity on neither the cultural aspect nor the linguistic confusion when questions are being asked. Diplomacy and respect across cultures is neither easy nor always clear. CAFAC has proven their commitment to see these issues dealt with.
• CAFAC has a pediatrician visit the foster home every second day and has medical services on-call at all times. I challenge any Canadian institution to hold to that standard. Further, all CAFAC client families are not only made aware of the realities of health problems facing all children in Ethiopia, but also that because of differing standards, their definition of “healthy” is not comparable to ours. This isn’t deception, but context and culture.
• CAFAC does not determine the ages of adoptable children. This is done by the Ethiopian Government through the relinquishment process. While it is rare, it is also not unusual for age discrepancies because of low literacy rates and a lack of vital statistics. Further, Ethiopia follows a different calender to ours, further complicating the issues.
• While referrals are presented by CAFAC, the information provided to families is from the Ethiopian authorities and complete details are not available until the court proceeding finalizing the adoption. Anyone who has worked abroad, especially through Africa, knows that it is different and difficult in respect to these issues.
• When making this documentary, CBC turned down dozens of families and children who wanted to share their overwhelmingly positive experience with CAFAC. CBC clearly had no intention of genuinely addressing the full set of issues.
What people don’t see in this story is that the CAFAC founders are parents who adopted from Ethiopia themselves, whose children are involved in the adoptive world here and abroad. For them to “play it loose” is so clearly far from the truth to anyone who knows them that it is ridiculous. They are caring, hard-working and wonderful people who clearly do what they do because they believe in it. They are also the most thorough and professional people I have ever worked with.
Again, we take no issue with CBC’s desire to expose questionable adoption programs. However, this story not only fails to show the issue a fair exploration, they use for their example one of the most exemplary agencies in Canada. By failing to meet basic levels of objectivity and professionalism, the CBC could potentially do harm to legitimate adoptions, unsettling the delicate relationships forged over time with partner nations.
We ask all of you to take the time to respond to the CBC, sharing your concern over this treatment. Feel free to quote this document or contact me for more details. You can contact the CBC via:
You can also register a complaint with the CBC Ombudsman:
http://www.cbc.ca/ombudsman/page/contact.html
Thank you.
Thank you again for your post. As I mentioned to you on Twitter we adopted from India and thereafter I was on the board of the agency though which we adopted. The lengths we went through to operate in an ethical and compassionate way was beyond most people’s view of reality. With child trafficking for prostitution, forced labor, child marriage, and other heinous crimes being the majority of abuse of children in the world, it is obscene that articles like this are published when an overwhelming percentage of international adoptions are ethical and legal. Until we deal a blow to the devastating poverty that drives families to sell their children, these issues will never go away. Why go after an industry based on creating forever families? Because it is visible and heavily regulated and the horribly criminal abuse of children is not visible. It is like the drug trade.
Now for my money, I would rather see a child end up in a loving home rather than in prostitution. Call me crazy. People that write these articles are responsible for the distruction of hope for thousands of children. They are not practicing free press, they are participating in supporting abuse of children.
Thanks John. Like yourself, we are involved on an international with orphanages, relief work, etc. It seems clear that either the reporter was woefully naive to the realities and complexities of cross-cultural and international relations or was intentionally withholding those details. The CBC needs to be held accountable for irresponsible abuse of the press that, while appearing to be working for good, could result in genuine problems- problems for the innocent involved.
Peace,
Jamie
Having a wife who grew up in a almost exclusively First Nations environment, we have already had experience with the manipulative and agenda-driven yellow journalism by the CBC. To save space on words, we simply assume that they’re lying and attempting to mislead out of sensationalism and their own not-so-subtle agenda. In short, we don’t believe the CBC even knows what “balanced” or “investigative” really means.
And don’t get me started on their fear-mongering about Tijuana.
Hey Rob,
Yes, we have had the same experience in our neighbourhood. Actually, the two times CBC has interviewed me they seriously misquoted me. Once they edited my answer and applied it to a different question altogether. I wish it were otherwise, as I love a lot of CBC radio material.
Peace,
Jamie
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[...] many prospective parents find such shows intolerable and write them off as crap. Others plead for balance and understanding. Still others say that flying halfway around the world with cash sewn in your underwear is neither [...]
thank you so much for your post. the so-called reporting done by CBC was disgusting. it seems that they are out for any story that they can get, and are willing to trash the reputation of a good agency and the people that run it. my 9 year old son came home from school worried that he wouldn’t be able to have a sister because a classmate told him that adopting was for crooks.
we wrote the CBC omnbudsman (spelling?) and got a standard i’m-covering-my-ass answer back from him stating that “positive stories were forthcoming.”
please excuse me while I go and vomit.
Hey Suzanne,
I have not heard back from the Ombudsman in respect to the first CBC series, so I will probably follow that up. Thanks!
Sincerely,
Jamie
Adoption is child trafficking, pure and simple. Didn’t you ever read “The Baby Thief?” It’s only gotten worse. I would never adopt, unless I was 110% sure that the child had absolutely no alternative – no relatives, no parents, nothing but me. But very few adoptive parents can say this with any certainty at all. They are therefore guilty, even if they are ignorant. Ignorance is no excuse when it comes to the best interests of the child and the child’s REAL PARENTS.
Veronica,
I am more familiar with child trafficking than you might expect. Part of my job has me involved in international relief work throughout Africa & Asia. I have active and personal relationship with people throughout the world. International adoption, far more than not, is complete legitimate and free of trafficking. Yes it is a real problem, but to paint it as though it were the norm not the exception is misleading and reflective of fear-mongering, not genuine research.
By your standards, too many children would suffer and die needlessly in contexts where they cannot be supported. Having been involved in providing foster-care within Canada for years, if we didn’t help children unless NO ONE was available, kids would suffer & die. There are more to it than you suggest with your comment.
Peace,
Jamie
[...] CBC Misrepresents Adoption Again « A Living Alternative Our Missional Pilgrimage [...]
Veronica it is easy for you to say you would never adopt. Perhaps you have your own children or decided not to have children. Or you are not in that phase of life at all, who knows. Where would all the children go if they were not adopted? They either live in orphanages, or foster care. Children without a family to take care of them fall prey to many unfortunate situations. Would you want to grow up in an institution or a home? Would you prefer that these children live in an institution while families pursue invirto at any cost? Abort some of the fetuses so a woman can claim “I am a birth other?” Seriously- think about it.
There are people who are against international adoptions and I can’t change their minds, nor do I wish to. They have their reasons, but to assume it is wrong in every case is ridiculous. My grandchildren are from Ethiopia. They are not orphans, but their mother was abandoned by the father and could not support the children. When she relinquished them they were very, very thin as she could not feed them regularly. She told us when we met with her that they would not have survived if she had kept them. If they had stayed in Ethiopia all three would not have survived. Which one should have been the sacrificial lamb? Things are not that simple and not that easy, but to judge parents who are providing a loving home for a family without knowing all they have been through is just plain wrong. There are thousands of children in both the United States and Canada and other countries throughout the world who are not living with their “real parents” which is a fact of life since time memorial. Unfortunately, some children never find a home, others do and instead of blessing the family bond acquired through adoption some scorn it which places a stigma on being adopted. I too am adopted, should I wear a scarlet letter around my neck?
I agree completely, revcat. Thanks!