In France, people who were illegally adopted internationally are trying to make their voices heard by the courts. As this phenomenon does not currently constitute a criminal offence, the fight is likely to be difficult.

There are 120,000 children who have become French through international adoption between 1980 and today. A figure that is largely underestimated, without counting all the cases where the children arrived without a visa. So how many were there illegally? The question makes all those involved in adoption tremble. " We don't have precise figures on the number of illicit practices, we would have to do it case by case," notes Fábio Macedo, a doctor of history at the University of Angers.

The criminal response is also summary: "There is no specific law on illegal adoptions."  Joseph Breham, a criminal lawyer, firmly establishes this statement. He clarifies the legal situation in which people who have been adopted illegally find themselves.

"There is no specific law on illegal adoptions."

Joseph Breham, criminal lawyer

The lawyer has mastered this subject well to work, with his colleague, Noémie Saidi-Cottier, on the Malian case against the authorized adoption organization (OAA) "Le Rayon de soleil de l'enfant étranger". The establishment, which is said to be at the origin of several illegal adoptions between Mali and France, is currently the subject of an investigation after the lawyers of nine "adoptees", men and women who are sometimes well into their forties, filed a complaint for the offense of receiving stolen goods... All of them were adopted in France under an adoption regime that is not the same as in the country of birth; sometimes to the detriment of the wishes of the biological families. This goes hand in hand with the falsification of documents, false declarations and breach of trust by the parents. With no way of knowing their initial ties, these adoptees live in a biological void. "I know I have a brother, but no one wants to tell me ," complains Marie Marre, one of the plaintiffs in the Malian case and spokesperson for the movement [1].

We are a network of interconnected NGOs and partners that works towards re-establishing links within a family separated by international borders. We want to celebrate and highlight 100 years of Women Explorers, celebrating the women who founded ISS and the women who are leading ISS now, 100 years of Restoring Links, allowing children and their families to be protected and reunited, and 100 years of Pioneer Advocacy, contributing to the development of international private and public law.

About us

Do join one of our events and be part of shaping the future of ISS as we tackle tomorrow's social challenges.

Celebrating 100 years of protecting children and reuniting families across borders, we are thrilled to invite you to participate in our public events:

Amending Directive 2011/36/EU on preventing and combating trafficking in human
beings and protecting its victims

Romano Prodi

https://watermark.silverchair.com/rep.2023.163.4.51.pdf?token=AQECAHi208BE49Ooan9kkhW_Ercy7Dm3ZL_9Cf3qfKAc485ysgAAA5QwggOQBgkqhkiG9w0BBwagggOBMIIDfQIBADCCA3YGCSqGSIb3DQEHATAeBglghkgBZQMEAS4wEQQMv486s8HgYJs6tccSAgEQgIIDRwczuWaKBUQQAmbeY_iOEvtRTtOTRnqnqs7t5-oX2yIqU-u7ZsMvHvLdPJtN_1qmlMMi-MXozBylE3v46ENuyBol_rvesK9JOImZG9_mqoaUqcmCh-gGyHM7ciUgAom3tw94oN3A6EXCWATGMXe4yDNkFXxA-r9N-OFiv-7h55PFbVb2EOsTVCbCrb7GQsadw8khuzvn-Fo5tVpqIcvM3Af-FcQxhLJeUToguubFkNMOLKqyQoeKr4AmAC8lA-BaArKLm458axC4u6hMZJ9ROTQOhPrAhyXiRBwO52b-yv0V8NNc_kzGRkeQtU7fuyFgS_HiOvpgNi6TYVAtrTFvz_ug80D8HLXgcdJ0atgrnQVgro8gsaAjHplQ-5-hb8ihsg7lZ0KN7fr5MvL9u__7fu8ARMYyU63zxZ_TN5-aWORkGfEEjbFp8IpQydLg9NBpc-JeF0MIfmECLKKSh7lTOxAAZ8P8fVHBSRyOAvoahcfpAgCynH-fXTwzv6LQF1D3naaa9uRr_ne3Hx0RfbM7tGst4WtyeRpBQHTbJ9_WwvdX4JAOhf-sh8f2WT6gh4GHgTyA8rnhlSD8ZVQ9Mw8cc-UEft1Of0FdfdQ9TvhVDU61z0m0_XC_UuZJTnQhcBAKIuAsntXHTG4rduBGClFWltMVwlb4BhJ2XpKikA29p8O26-xUrwXAErNjt_uvkh2DVtZOpAlYCG398d0QLgF-vzYM0CjLHuBb8k_PzOBUWQGMx1XSFSMQN1WAia5mdKXs9_1u9HBH_DJGxrcDP88UDv3g5MRlRYdcEAW6WoMT_0yAZQD7aItDijIKB1nwpulXJSopmUk9LK3K8WkLC97LtfJus-v8GuU4ZVQGgiWEf65i9YVPYxnh5R2ZWgcUMbGA9rmKuI0VvdjA1oPdhnJgPRQtFWt94CW-uUtWJYrKC_CKInGOgS2V6TIjFlCUAKGJnEpfbhTDg0v1mUFoSuZLOeXKM2BzRm0UluuA_HPRW-VGWJ4HzK4Vbu1qgpxfiNEcO0njqi64Ll4BEDSh894HFo-sMwyNKRa7Zxm-YyMVXAuuEXJvQoMcJ6h0ajTQK3A2p51FXHUVQMfkDhUFimrRlS7SXQVctBsU

T. R. FEHRENBACH’ S CLASSIC HISTORY of the Korean War,
This Kind of War (1962), famously calls the conflict “not a test of power—
because neither antagonist used full powers—but a test of wills.”1 Originally
subtitled A Study in Unpreparedness, it describes a US that learned the hard way
what it took to fight a limited proxy war abroad. The first chapter, “Seoul,
Saturday Night,” recounts the eve of the Korean War in anticipatory detail,
with the pathos of retrospective knowledge. Surveying the American colony
and its embassy bars, the narrator observes:
Over tax-free liquor, the colony laughed over Foster’s [John Foster Dulles] visit, and
over the official who had been caught keeping North Korea’s Number One female
spy. This man had even bought the woman a short-wave radio, and it was said the
ROK’s would shoot her.
In spite of American influence, the ROK’s were still extremely brutal to leftist
elements in their midst. Of course, they could not shoot the American official.
There had been a child, towheaded yet, the American wives in Seoul told each
other. Some American couple would, of course, adopt it.
2

The final sentence of this anecdote appears to end this story of sex, violence,
and treason rather matter-of-factly. Though Fehrenbach often sums up other
passages with quotable philosophical adages, this sentence is not one. As
a line of free indirect discourse, it offers complexity rather than a voice of
clear moral insight. Does it belong to the American wives, retaining the
previous sentence’s whisper of scandal? Or has the omniscient historian
picked up the thread here, returning us to a world of objective fact? And
what about the “would” of “would adopt it”? If part of the local gossip, the

Our Team

Hope Group

CEO

Ken Huey

In the complex journey of adolescence, some young girls face challenges that are overwhelming. We are certainly talking about trauma and overcoming trauma responses as difficult. We are even more specifically talking about adding to trauma a teen pregnancy. Trauma, whether stemming from abuse, neglect, or other adverse experiences, can profoundly impact a teen’s emotional and psychological well-being. When coupled with the challenges of teen pregnancy, the burden can feel insurmountable.

At Havenwood Academy, we understand the unique struggles teen girls face when dealing with trauma while also experiencing pregnancy. We recognize that these young women require specialized care, support, and guidance to navigate this delicate time in their lives. Our goal is to provide a nurturing environment where they can heal, grow, and ultimately thrive.Our approach focuses on holistic healing as we address the physical, emotional, and mental aspects of our clients’ well-being.

There are very few residential treatment centers in the country that will accept a pregnant teen. We know of none that are also specialists in trauma. That is where Havenwood steps in. We are experts at treating girls with high ACES scores (www.acestoohigh.org) and we can support pregnancy with our full time nursing and program staff.

We are committed to supporting teen girls through every step of their journey. Whether they are processing past traumas, preparing for motherhood, or planning for their future, we stand by their side, offering unwavering support, compassion, and guidance.

If you or someone you know is facing trauma and teen pregnancy, we invite you to reach out to us. Our team is here to provide the healing and hope you need to thrive. 

Havenwood Academy (2014-present) Cedar City, UT

Residential Treatment Center

History and Background Information

Havenwood Academy (also called Havenwood South) is a HOPE Group behavior-modification program that opened in 2014. It is marketed as a Residential Treatment Center for teenaged girls ages 12-18 with a history of “early complex childhood trauma and attachment related issues including Reactive Attachment Disorder”. The average length of stay is reported to be around 12 months. Havenwood has been a NATSAP member since 2016.

The address given for the program is 246 E Fiddlers Canyon Rd, Cedar City, UT 84721. However, they recently purchased a 160-acre plot of land which was formerly a historic cattle ranch, and are in the process of converting this into their primary location. This ranch is located at 8097 W 2000 S, Cedar City, UT 84720.

It didn't seem to matter what happened at the teen treatment center. The state of Utah always gave it another chance. Death. Allegations of abuse. Criminal charges. Bizarre punishments. Whistleblowers coming forward. Each time, the place got a pass.

A team of reporters from three news organizations has spent the last year digging into the untold stories of Utah's massive teen treatment industry. Some 20,000 teenagers facing depression, delinquency and other problems have been sent there from every state in the country over the last six years. Sent Away investigates how the government failed to keep all those kids safe — through the voices and stories of the teens who lived it.

During the last sonography of her pregnancy, Meera found out that there was a tumour growing in her uterus. As they grappled with this reality, their doctor suggested adoption through SOFOSH.

The moment Pranit Kulkarni addressed her as “aai”, she collapsed crying. “She was essentially a complete stranger, so it was difficult for me to say ‘aai’. But it was a very emotional moment. I knew I looked like someone in this world and I just wanted to thank them once”, said Pranit about the first and the last time he met his biological mother.