Not all adoptions constitute a form of human trafficking, but illegal adoption is. Illegal adoptions violate multiple child rights norms and principles, including the best interests of the child, the principle of subsidiarity and the prohibition of improper financial gain.
Though statistics regarding the magnitude of child trafficking are difficult to obtain, the International Labour Organization ILO estimates that 10, children are trafficked each year. In , 28 percent of the 17, people brought to the United States were children - about 13 children per day.
In , the United Nations noted that over 18, children were identified as trafficked in countries; however, this does not include those who were not detected. In , the European Commission noted that just over 10, people were identified as being trafficked into the European Union in one year; of these 1, were children approximately 1, girls and boys. In , the USA issued Certification letters and Assistance letters to 2, non-US children; it noted that all of them had experienced labor trafficking, sex trafficking or both.
The trafficking of children has been internationally recognized as a serious crime that exists in every region of the world and which often has human rights implications. Yet, it is only since that the prevalence and ramifications of this practice have risen to international prominence, due to a dramatic increase in research and public action.
Limited research has not yet identified all causes of child trafficking, however, it appears that poverty, humanitarian crisis , and lack of education contribute to high rates. A variety of potential solutions have accordingly been suggested and implemented, which can be categorized into four types of action: broad protection, prevention, law enforcement, and victim assistance. The first major international instrument dealing with the trafficking of children is part of the UN Palermo protocols , titled the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children.
