Guatemalan Children

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Guatemalan Children:

Prostitution, illegal adoption and murder

By Carlos Quintanilla

Every year 1000-2000 adoptions are processed to go abroad in Guatemala, which represents an income of almost 1.5 million dollars, according to a recent report by the United Nations Children Fun (UNICEF). The international adoptions in that Central America country have concerned that world organizations, since its increase during the past months, as well as charge about the illegality in that process and the high amounts of money paid abroad to the potential parents of Guatemalan children.

With this alarming situation, Ofelia Calcetas Santos, from the United Nations was recently in Guatemala, investigating the increasing commerce of international adoptions developing in that country.

Also, the expert was studying children prostitution and child pornography, phenomena which has also increased lately. After her investigations, the investigator, who was already spoken with people used by the networks of child trafficking, will make recommendations to the Guatemalan government about the adoption process taking place in the country.

Calcetas has been investigating child sexual exploitation in the U.S., Kenya and Laos. The countries negotiating most with Guatemala, according to UNICEF, are the U.S., Canada, France, Sweden, Germany and Australia.

It is estimated that there are about 20 networks trafficking in children in the Central America country, where lawyers, adopting agents, physicians, social workers, public officials and the family of the victims could be involved.

Meanwhile, Casa Alianza, a Latin American child protection organizations with an office in Guatemala, recently charged that hundreds of street children become victims of sexual abuse by the Guatemalan police.

According to Casa Alianza, the number of children in the streets has increase considerable in Guatemala, especially after the destruction cause by Hurricane Mitch in the area. The organization affirms that street children are tortured with impunity. Additionally it states that many homeless children have been murdered since 1990, and a large part of them have been torture. The humanitarian organizations points out that the national and private police are the main culprits.

The situation of Guatemalan children is very sad. However, the phenomena of child trafficking seems to have expanded to all Latin American Countries. According to UN statistics, about 12 thousand Latin American children are illegally adopted each year and taken abroad.

Although illegal child trafficking is not new, it should be concerning nongovernmental organizations and institutions, since as it has been charged, it involved the complicity of unscrupulous lawyer and physicians, as well as corrupt authorities.

The fact that large amounts of money are paid to adopt a child indicates that it is more a business operation than trying to find a home for the children. In this context, it is important the visit of the U.N. expert to Guatemala, who will undoubtedly know firsthand the tactics of child exploitation, child prostitution and how easily children are adopted, or better yet, sold.

Carlos Quintanilla produces and host KPFK's Spanish language news program "Noticiero Pacifica" which is broadcast on 90.8 FM every Saturday at 5:30 PM. Noticiero Pacifica is the only independent news program focusing on Latin America in the Los Angeles area.