What Intercountry Adoption Teaches us about Surrogacy

On August 30, 2026August 29, 2026 By lynellelongIn Advocacy, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Importance of Connections to Origins, right to identityLeave a comment

Presented by Lynelle Long on Saturday 22 August 2026 Speaker 3 in the panel: The Ethics of Surrogacy - An International Perspective Hello all and a huge thank you to Jo and Lily from ARMS for inviting me to be a part of your conference today! When we discuss surrogacy, the conversation usually begins with …

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Beyond Adoption: Human Rights, Family Separation and Accountability

On July 30, 2026July 24, 2026 By lynellelongIn 1993 Hague Convention, Adoptee Activism, Adoptee vulnerability, adoption accountability, adoption and power imbalance, adoption and silence, adoption conversations, Adoption policy, Adoption questions, adoption reform, adoptive parent defensiveness, adoptive parent reflection, adoptive parent responsibility, Adoptive parents silence on illegal adoptions, Advocacy, Alternatives to Adoption, China, Citizenship in Adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, Family Preservation, Finding biological mother, first family separation, Forced separation, Generational trauma, Gratitude in Adoption, Grief and Loss, human rights abuses in adoption, identity restoration, Illegal Adoption, Illicit Adoption, Impacts to Biological Families, Importance of Connections to Origins, intercountry adoption investigation, Is adoption the best option, legal identity erasure, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Politics of Adoption, Reparation in Adoption, reparative justice in adoption, Return to Birth Country, right to identity, Rights in Adoption, State responsibilities in adoption, Trauma in Adoption, Truth and Reconciliation Commission TRC, UN Joint Statement Illegal AdoptionLeave a comment

Lynelle calls for a new child and family rights system that preserves identity, family, culture, truth, belonging and accountability for all families.

Beyond Investigations: What Needs to Happen After?

On July 18, 2026July 8, 2026 By lynellelongIn 1993 Hague Convention, Adoptee Activism, adoption accountability, adoption and power imbalance, Adoption Conversations, adoption conversations, Adoption policy, adoption reform, adoptive parent reflection, Advocacy, Alternatives to Adoption, Compensation to Victims in Adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, human rights abuses in adoption, identity restoration, Illegal Adoption, Impacts to Biological Families, Importance of Connections to Origins, intercountry adoption investigation, Is adoption the best option, Justice Routes, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Politics of Adoption, Post Adoption Support, Reparation in Adoption, reparative justice in adoption, right to identity, Rights in Adoption, Search and Reunion in Adoption, State responsibilities in adoption, Truth and Reconciliation Commission TRC, UN Joint Statement Illegal AdoptionLeave a comment

Investigations are only the beginning. Lynelle discusses real solutions to address past illicit adoptions and prevent future human rights violations.

Conversations Across Adoption – Part 6

On July 4, 2026May 27, 2026 By lynellelongIn Adoptee Anger, adoptee emotional burden, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, adoption accountability, adoption and power imbalance, adoption and silence, Adoption Attachment, adoption conversations, Adoption Education for Professionals, adoption estrangement, Adoption policy, Adoption questions, adoption reform, adoptive family dialogue, adoptive parent defensiveness, adoptive parent reflection, adoptive parent responsibility, Advocacy, Alternatives to Adoption, Birth family trauma, Birth Parents Searching, Compensation to Victims in Adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, Family Preservation, Finding biological mother, First family responsibility, first family separation, Generational trauma, Gratitude in Adoption, Grief and Loss, human rights abuses in adoption, identity restoration, Illegal Adoption, Impacts to Biological Families, Importance of Connections to Origins, Justice Routes, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Lived experience leadership, Motherloss, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Peer Support, Politics of Adoption, Post Adoption Support, reparative justice in adoption, Return to Birth Country, Return to Birth Country, right to identity, Rights in Adoption, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, State responsibilities in adoption, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, Truth and Reconciliation Commission TRCLeave a comment

Adoptee Lynelle and adoptive parent Kristin reflect on truth, accountability, grief, and whether honesty can create deeper connection within adoption.

Why Hague Convention States must take responsibility for post adoption costs

On April 30, 2026April 30, 2026 By lynellelongIn 1993 Hague Convention, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Agencies, Adoption policy, adoption reform, Adoptive Country, Advocacy, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, Financials of intercountry adoption, Hague Special Commission, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Lived experience leadership, Politics of Adoption, Post Adoption Costs, Post Adoption Support, Rights in Adoption, Search and Reunion in Adoption, State responsibilities in adoption, Therapy, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

Lynelle argues Hague States must address post-adoption costs, regulating services, ensuring accountability, and preventing exploitation of adoptees.

Adoption Across a Lifetime: Why Reform Must Move Beyond the Child-Centric Lens

On April 23, 2026April 23, 2026 By lynellelongIn 1993 Hague Convention, Adjustment and Transition, Adoptee Activism, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Agencies, Adoption Education for Professionals, Adoption policy, Adoption questions, adoption reform, Advocacy, Alternatives to Adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, DNA Searching, Family Preservation, Forced separation, Generational trauma, human rights abuses in adoption, identity restoration, Importance of Connections to Origins, intercountry adoption investigation, Intercultural struggles, Is adoption the best option, Justice Routes, legal identity erasure, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Politics of Adoption, Post Adoption Support, Racial Mirrors, Racism in Adoption, Reparation in Adoption, reparative justice in adoption, Return to Birth Country, Return to Birth Country, right to identity, Rights in Adoption, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, State responsibilities in adoption, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, Truth and Reconciliation Commission TRCLeave a comment

Lynelle's opening keynote on intercountry adoption, exploring identity, lifelong impacts, and the urgent need to reform systems beyond a child-centric lens.

When Adoption Erases Sisters

On March 25, 2026March 11, 2026 By Guest BloggerIn Adoptee Activism, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoption Attachment, adoption reform, Advocacy, Compensation to Victims in Adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Family Preservation, Forced separation, Grief and Loss, human rights abuses in adoption, identity restoration, Illicit Adoption, Impacts to Biological Families, Importance of Connections to Origins, intercountry adoption investigation, Is adoption the best option, Legal Action taken by Adoptees, legal identity erasure, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Politics of Adoption, Reparation in Adoption, reparative justice in adoption, Rights in Adoption, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Sri Lanka, State responsibilities in adoption, Suicide, The Netherlands, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

A Sri Lankan adoptee, Sita, in the Netherlands shares why restoring identity and family ties must follow the ending of international adoption.

Agent Orange, Adoption, and the Long Reach of War

On February 21, 2026February 5, 2026 By Guest BloggerIn Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Attachment, Adoption questions, Advocacy, Birth family trauma, Birth mother choices, Birth Parents Searching, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Finding biological mother, Forced separation, Generational trauma, Grief and Loss, Impacts to Biological Families, Importance of Connections to Origins, Is adoption the best option, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Motherloss, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Politics of Adoption, Return to Birth Country, Sense of Belonging, Survival mechanisms, Sweden, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, VietnamLeave a comment

Vietnam adoptee Vinh shares his search for family, the impact of Agent Orange, reunion with his mother, and a call to heal trauma and end violence.

Restoring Identity for Intercountry Adoptees

On January 31, 2026January 30, 2026 By lynellelongIn 1993 Hague Convention, Adoptee Activism, Adoption Discharge Annulment, Adoption policy, adoption reform, adoption reversal, Adoptive Country, Advocacy, Birth Country, Citizenship in Adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, Forced separation, human rights abuses in adoption, identity restoration, Importance of Connections to Origins, Is adoption the best option, Justice Routes, Legal Action taken by Adoptees, legal identity erasure, Legal routes for illegal adoption, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Origins Search, Politics of Adoption, Post Adoption Support, Reparation in Adoption, reparative justice in adoption, Return to Birth Country, right to identity, Rights in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, State responsibilities in adoption, Transracial Adoption, UN Joint Statement Illegal AdoptionLeave a comment

Lynelle calls on States to restore identity, nationality, records, family ties, and allow adoption reversal where chosen as a matter of justice.

Australia’s History and Silence on Illicit and Illegal Intercountry Adoptions: A Record of Inaction

On November 4, 2025November 4, 2025 By lynellelongIn 1993 Hague Convention, Adoptee Activism, Adoption Agencies, Adoption questions, adoption reform, Adoptive Country, Advocacy, Australia, Birth Parents Searching, Chile, Compensation to Victims in Adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, DNA Searching, Ethiopia, Forced separation, Illegal Adoption, Illicit Adoption, Importance of Connections to Origins, intercountry adoption investigation, Is adoption the best option, Justice Routes, Korea, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Not Knowing in Adoption, Politics of Adoption, Post Adoption Support, Reparation in Adoption, Rights in Adoption, Romania, Sense of Belonging, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, Truth and Reconciliation Commission TRC, VietnamLeave a comment

Australia’s silence on illicit and illegal intercountry adoptions and ICAV’s 20-year fight for truth, justice, and recognition of adoptee rights continues

Intercountry adoptees taking legal action and reclaiming our rights

On October 17, 2025August 29, 2026 By lynellelongIn 1993 Hague Convention, Abuse in Adoption, Adoptee Anger, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoption Agencies, Adoption Discharge Annulment, Adoption policy, Adoption questions, adoption reform, Adoptive parents, Advocacy, Australia, Belgium, Birth Parents Searching, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Citizenship in Adoption, Compensation to Victims in Adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Denmark, Deportation of Adoptees, Difficult discussions in adoption, Ethiopia, Forced separation, France, Generational trauma, Germany, Gratitude in Adoption, Guatemala, Illegal Adoption, Illicit Adoption, Impacts to Biological Families, Importance of Connections to Origins, India, intercountry adoption investigation, Is adoption the best option, Italy, Justice Routes, Korea, Legal Action taken by Adoptees, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, New Zealand, Norway, Origins Search, Politics of Adoption, Post Adoption Support, Reparation in Adoption, Rights in Adoption, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, Truth and Reconciliation Commission TRC, UK, UN Joint Statement Illegal Adoption, USA, Vietnam, What is an Illegal and Illicit Adoption?Leave a comment

Intercountry adoptees worldwide are taking legal action to expose illegal adoptions, demand truth, and push for justice, accountability, and human rights reform.

Adoptee Advocacy

On September 26, 2025October 2, 2025 By lynellelongIn Adoptee Activism, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, adoption reform, Advocacy, Australia, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Lived experience leadership, Peer Support, Politics of Adoption, Transracial AdoptionLeave a comment

Lynelle's reflection on turning pain into purpose through adoptee advocacy—healing, empowerment, and transforming systems with collective lived experience.

Accepting Responsibility as An Adoption Facilitator

On February 8, 2022November 3, 2026 By Guest BloggerIn 1993 Hague Convention, adoption accountability, Adoption Agencies, adoption and power imbalance, adoption conversations, Adoption Conversations, Adoption Education for Professionals, Adoption questions, adoption reform, adoptive family dialogue, adoptive parent reflection, adoptive parent responsibility, Adoptive parents, Advocacy, Alternatives to Adoption, Birth family trauma, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, Family Preservation, Finding biological mother, first family separation, Forced separation, human rights abuses in adoption, identity restoration, Illegal Adoption, Illicit Adoption, Impacts to Biological Families, Importance of Connections to Origins, intercountry adoption investigation, Justice Routes, Legal routes for illegal adoption, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Politics of Adoption, Reparation in Adoption, reparative justice in adoption, Rights in Adoption, State responsibilities in adoption, Trauma in Adoption, Uganda, USA, What is an Illegal and Illicit Adoption?1 Comment

Jessica shares on the legal case against the traffickers of Namata, European Adoption Consultants (EAC). Great to see justice happening but long overdue!

Pain of Loss and the Joy at Seeing her Reunified with her Family

On January 9, 2022November 3, 2026 By Guest BloggerIn Adoptee vulnerability, adoption accountability, adoption and power imbalance, Adoption Conversations, adoption conversations, Adoption Education for Professionals, adoption reversal, adoptive parent reflection, adoptive parent responsibility, Adoptive parents, Advocacy, Alternatives to Adoption, Birth mother choices, Compensation to Victims in Adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Family Preservation, Finding biological mother, first family separation, Forced separation, Generational trauma, human rights abuses in adoption, identity restoration, Illegal Adoption, Illicit Adoption, Impacts to Biological Families, Importance of Connections to Origins, intercountry adoption investigation, Is adoption the best option, legal identity erasure, Legal routes for illegal adoption, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Origins Search, Politics of Adoption, reparative justice in adoption, Return to Birth Country, Return to Birth Country, right to identity, Rights in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, State responsibilities in adoption, Uganda, USA4 Comments

Jessica Davis shares her grief from returning her Ugandan daughter back to her biological family but also the joy at seeing them together. Adoption is complex.

Does Justice or Accountability Happen in Illicit Adoptions?

On November 23, 2021November 3, 2026 By Guest BloggerIn adoption accountability, adoption and power imbalance, Adoption Conversations, adoption conversations, Adoption Education for Professionals, adoptive family dialogue, adoptive parent reflection, adoptive parent responsibility, Adoptive parents, Advocacy, Compensation to Victims in Adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, Exploring adoptive parent journey, Family Preservation, human rights abuses in adoption, identity restoration, Illegal Adoption, Illicit Adoption, Impacts to Biological Families, Importance of Connections to Origins, intercountry adoption investigation, Is adoption the best option, Justice Routes, legal identity erasure, Legal routes for illegal adoption, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Politics of Adoption, Reparation in Adoption, reparative justice in adoption, right to identity, Rights in Adoption, State responsibilities in adoption, Trauma in Adoption, Uganda, UN Joint Statement Illegal Adoption, USA, What is an Illegal and Illicit Adoption?3 Comments

American adoptive mum Jessica Davis shares her thoughts since the guilty plea from adoption agency staffer, Debra Parris, who facilitated the illicit adoption.

From Tokenism to Social Justice

On June 6, 2021November 3, 2026 By julietteviaIn Adoptee Anger, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, Advocacy, Alternatives to Adoption, colourblindness in adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, denial gaslighting minimisation by others, Difficult discussions in adoption, Diversity in Adoption, Family Preservation, first family separation, Forced separation, Generational trauma, Gratitude in Adoption, Is adoption the best option, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Racism in Adoption, Rights in Adoption, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

Marie Gardom shares how we can move from Tokenism to Social Justice in adoption. Inclusion of adoptees needs to recognise adoptees as the experts of our experience.