The United Nations has established 18 November, as an official World Day for the Prevention and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence. It is an appropriate day for us to launch and publish our newest ICAV Perspective Paper, that lifts the lid on one of the most taboo topics within adoption, that of the sexual abuse experienced by intercountry adoptees within their adoptive families environments – families who are supposedly thoroughly assessed and deemed to be a safer and “better” choice than the families and countries we are separated from.
In this paper, “Sexual Abuse in Intercountry Adoption“ we address the sensitive and severe issue of sexual abuse experienced by adoptees in intercountry and transracial adoption scenarios.
The purpose of our sharing is to raise awareness of sexual abuse within intercountry adoption, to elevate survivor voices, and advocate for systemic change to better protect adoptees.
I am a survivor myself and have written extensively on the additional complexities imposed upon my life when sexual abuse is added to the already difficult challenges of being displaced, often via illicit and illegal means, and removed from our country, culture and people. Having finally finished addressing my sexual abuse issues via the justice mechanisms I was able to access in Australia, I wanted to do more to help my fellow survivors from around the world, who often suffer in silence with no such mechanisms available to them.
In Summary
In this paper, we include contributions from 31 adoptees from diverse backgrounds of 15 birth and 9 adoptive countries highlighting experiences of abuse, systemic failures, and lifelong impacts. Many adoptees share their trauma of being ignored, dismissed, or blamed when trying to speak up about their abuses.
Our paper provides a critique of the lack of followup mechanisms in intercountry adoption compared to foster care or other alternative care models for vulnerable children where State oversight exists. This absence leaves adoptees especially vulnerable to abuse without any recourse.
The only research data ever collected on intercountry adoptees who experience any type of abuse or sexual abuse is mentioned in the introduction but I believe from my years of providing one of the largest peer support network in the world for over 25 years, that the abuse rates are widespread amongst our intercountry adoptee community and this paper helps to demonstrate this in a tiny way.
Our paper recommends calls for mandatory independent followups on adoptees, stricter assessment of prospective parents, education on abuse for adoptees and adoptive parents, and enhanced professional training for adoption facilitators, law enforcement and mental health professionals. As survivors, we would also like to see better supports for survivors, and recognition of the specific traumas connected to adoption and sexual abuse.
Our survivor narratives illustrate abuse, the failures of systems that are meant to protect us, and the resulting emotional, psychological and relational challenges it adds to our lives.
We provide this paper as an educational resource for adoption and sexual abuse professionals and a support framework for adoptees. It highlights the urgent need for reform to ensure the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable children in adoption systems.
I look forward to any feedback you have on this paper and can’t say enough how much I am honoured to present this to you along with the 30 other fellow adoptees. I thank them from the bottom of my heart for their trust in me and for their courage to open themselves up about the deepest, most hurtful aspects of our lives.
Click on the image below to read our latest ICAV Perspective Paper (English only), also available with our collection of ICAV Perspective Papers
Resources
Study on Human Rights protection measures through a survey on the human rights situation of overseas adoptees by the Human Rights Commission of South Korea
This link has English translation: Korea Human Rights 2023 Research Study, the largest study of Korean intercountry adoptees showing a sexual abuse statistic of 13.5% (see pages 41, 80, 147, 200, 201, 225)
Global anonymous adoptee survey 2022 (showing 28% on p7 experienced sexual abuse inside their adoption)
Showing up Child Abuse Trends and the need for Adult Revocation of adoption by Adoptees 2021 (showing 38% experienced child abuse inside their UK adoption)
Adoption Surveys 2017: Adult Adoptee Perceptions in International Adoption (showing 37% experience physical and verbal abuse in adoptive home) freeform responses
ICAV Submission (Australian report): Adopted people who have experience Abuse and / or Neglect for The Australian Government Consultation on the “Successor Plan” to the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2019 – 2020
ICAV Submission (Australian report): Violence, Abuse, Neglect & Exploitation of People with Disability – ICAV Statement to the Royal Commission on Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of people with Disability 2021
Chamila shares (video): Lifelong impact of abuse in adoption
De Afhaalchinnes S2E3 What if you are not safe at home (2025) by Kelly-Qian van Binsbergen, a Dutch TV series with English subtitles
Sexual abuse healing: Lisa Enik (Indonesian intercountry adoptee and sexologist specialising in sexual abuse in intercountry adoption)
Meeting the adoption support needs of adopted adults who have been abused in their adoptive families: lessons from historical placements (2014, by Perlita Harris in the UK published at CORAM BAAF)
MeToo Healing Survivors Sanctuary
Sexual Abuse Lawsuits (podcast) : Your legal questions answered (USA based)
What about the Rapists – An abolitionists FAQ series from interrupting criminalisation
How Faith affects child sexual abuse
Household composition and risk of fatal child maltreatment
Child Sexual Abuse – A Guide for Adoptive Parents
8 Toxic things parents say to their children
Australian Child Maltreatment Study
Child Sexual Abuse by Caretakers
