Advocating for truth, justice, lifelong rights and systemic reform
Since 1998, InterCountry Adoptee Voices (ICAV) has advocated for the rights and needs of intercountry adoptees, bringing our diverse lived experiences into national and international policy discussions.
Our advocacy seeks to protect identity, citizenship and family connections; address illegal and illicit adoption practices; strengthen lifelong support; and hold governments and institutions accountable for their responsibilities.
We work to ensure that intercountry adoptees are recognised as rights-holders whose voices and experiences are essential to adoption policy, investigations, justice mechanisms and meaningful reform.
Explore our advocacy, key publications, international work and recommendations for change.
Explore Our Advocacy
Adoptee Rights & Identity
The rights every adoptee should be guaranteed
Illegal & Illicit Adoptions
Understanding wrongdoing and systemic failures
Investigations & Accountability
Government inquiries, reports & evidence worldwide
Truth, Justice & Reparations
International human rights pathways and remedies
Policy Reform & Family Preservation
Questioning adoption practices and protecting families
ICAV Advocacy in Action
Our representations, submissions and international work
Key Advocacy Resources
Two practical resources developed by ICAV to support adoptee rights and pathways to justice.
What ICAV Advocates For
Our advocacy is informed by the diverse lived experiences of intercountry adoptees and the responsibilities of governments and institutions throughout our lives.
✓ Identity & Citizenship
Full access to origins, records, citizenship security and opportunities for identity restoration.
✓ Lifelong Support
Accessible, independent and appropriately funded post-adoption support throughout adulthood.
✓ Legal Recognition & Justice
Legal protections, restoration pathways and the ability to challenge or discharge adoption where appropriate.
✓ Truth & Accountability
Independent investigations, transparency, legal remedies and reparations for historic wrongs
✓ Family Preservation
Prioritising children’s rights, family connections and meaningful alternatives to separation
✓ Adoptee Leadership
Meaningful participation and leadership by people directly affected in policy and institutional reform
ICAV Advocacy in Action
Our Collective Advocacy to the Hague & United Nations
ICAV has brought together the lived experiences of adoptees and families affected by illegal and illicit intercountry adoptions to identify what governments and international authorities must do in response.
2020 · Hague Working Group
How Authorities and Bodies Could Respond to Illicit Adoptions
A global compilation of lived-experience recommendations on recognition, accountability, support and appropriate responses to illegal and illicit adoptions.
2023 · United Nations
Victims of Illegal Intercountry Adoption Speak Out
Building on the 2020 paper, this collective publication calls for meaningful implementation of the UN Joint Statement, with further recommendations from affected people.
Families of Origin Speak Out
Three short testimonies presented at the United Nations in September 2023, bringing the experiences of families separated through intercountry adoption directly into international discussions.
Uganda
Families of origin
Ethiopia
Parents’ testimony
South Korea
Mother’s testimony
Parliamentary Advocacy & Adopted Resolutions
ICAV contributes lived-experience expertise to the Interparliamentary Taskforce on Human Trafficking’s Orphanage Trafficking Working Group, helping strengthen international parliamentary recognition and responses to orphanage trafficking and illegal intercountry adoption.
2023
Orphanage Trafficking: The Role of Parliaments in Reducing Harm
147th IPU Assembly — Luanda, Angola
Adopted resolution calling for prevention of orphanage trafficking, stronger legislative safeguards, investigations into illegal intercountry adoptions and recognition of affected people as victims.
2025
Recognising and Supporting Victims of Illegal International Adoption
151st IPU Assembly — Geneva, Switzerland
Adopted resolution calling on States to acknowledge illegal adoptions, recognise affected people as victims, investigate wrongdoing and provide appropriate support, remedies and safeguards.
Learn more about the Orphanage Trafficking Working Group and Legislative Toolkit.
International Advocacy & Representation
ICAV works with adoptee-led organisations, families of origin, international bodies and child-rights advocates to bring lived experiences into policy, investigations and reform.
2019 – 2023
Hague Conference Working Groups
Contributing adoptee perspectives on preventing illicit practices that led to the development of a Toolkit; and on financial safeguards and government responsibilities under the 1993 Hague Convention
2022
Hague Special Commission
Supporting wider participation by adoptee-led organisations as Observers and bringing adult adoptee experiences directly into international discussions.
2022 – 2023
United Nations Advocacy
Working through Voices Against Illegal Adoption to contribute lived-experience perspectives to the UN’s work on illegal intercountry adoption, calling for meaningful responses and ultimately the publication of the UN’s Joint Statement on Illegal Adoptions.
2026
International Collaboration on Illicit Adoption Response
Collaborating with Child Identity Protection, UNICEF and the Institute for Inspiring Children’s Futures on preventing illicit adoptions and strengthening responses to those affected.
Government Advocacy, Investigations & Consultations
ICAV works with governments, researchers and public authorities to ensure intercountry adoptees’ lived experiences inform investigations, policy development and institutional reform. Our contributions include historical research, consultation design, government submissions, presentations and recommendations for meaningful change.
Current Investigations & Consultations
Australia – South Korea
2026 · Ongoing — Historical Adoption Investigation
ICAV is one of four adoptee led organisations engaged to support meaningful adoptee participation in Australia’s investigation into historical South Korea–Australia intercountry adoptions.
Quebec, Canada
2026 · Reporting underway — Adoptee Consultation
ICAV led with support from L’Hybride, an adoptee-only consultation to inform Quebec’s review of its intercountry adoption system, exploring adoptee-led priorities concerning lifelong services, identity, access to records and government responsibilities.
Denmark
2026 – 2027 · Ongoing — Historical Investigation
ICAV is contributing to VIVE’s historical investigation of intercountry adoptions to Denmark, including co-leading research and fieldwork concerning Vietnam and Thailand.
Australian Government Advocacy
Since 1998, ICAV has advocated for the recognition of intercountry adoptee rights, lifelong support, government accountability and systemic reform in Australia’s intercountry adoption system.
- Government meetings and parliamentary representations
- Post-adoption service advocacy and consultations
- Submissions, petitions and accountability campaigns
- Calls for investigations into historical adoption practices
Explore ICAV’s Australian Advocacy →
International Government Engagement
Selected presentations, briefings and meetings where ICAV has contributed adoptee lived-experience perspectives to government authorities internationally.
2026
South Korea — Overseas Korean Adoptees Gathering
ICAV representative Nicky Hammond reflects on the 2026 Overseas Korean Adoptees Gathering in Seoul, highlighting global adoptee solidarity, advocacy and collective recommendations for improved support, recognition and accountability.
2023
New Zealand — Oranga Tamariki
ICAV adoptee panel presentation to New Zealand government adoption teams, sharing recommendations on lifelong support, racism, search and reunion, and understanding adoptee experiences.
2019
United States — Department of State
ICAV presented at the Adoption Symposium bringing in 10 adoptee leaders of US groups.
2018
Vietnam — Ministry of Justice
ICAV presented concerning issues regarding post-adoption needs of Vietnamese adoptees.
2017
United States — Department of State & Department of Immigration
ICAV and ARC met concerning adoptee rights, needs and experiences relevant to citizenship.
ICAV Historical Advocacy Archive
Explore ICAV’s historical government correspondence, parliamentary submissions, meeting records, photographs and advocacy documents dating back to 1998.
Explore the Advocacy Archive →