This statement was released by the Working Group on Orphanage Trafficking and Exploitation -- a global coalition of Members of Parliament, government leaders, survivor leaders, and key stakeholders committed to combatting orphanage trafficking and the exploitation through raising awareness and identifying, creating, and implementing tools that curb the demand for orphanage trafficking and stop the exploitation of children in residential care settings, including orphanages. The Working group aims to raise awareness and combat orphanage trafficking at the policy level globally.
“Human trafficking in orphanages, or “orphanage trafficking,” is defined as the recruitment or transfer of children from their families into orphanages for a purpose of exploitation or profit. It has strong links to foreign aid sourced largely from Western donor countries, illicit international adoption rings, and “voluntourism” schemes that cater to tourists seeking international volunteer opportunities. To meet revenue goals or to meet the demand generated by tourists seeking to volunteer with ‘orphans’, large numbers of children are recruited into orphanages where they are exploited. Of the estimated 8 million children living in orphanages around the world, it is unknown what proportion have been trafficked.”
