Introduction

International adoption should keep children safe from harm. Risks for adopted children include trafficking and abuse. This can be monitored where systems are stable and processes are followed. However, many systems are currently blocked by displacement, conflict, and instability. Many children in need cannot be protected. Thus, children around the world are being left in the cracks of protective systems. Some are adopted by families who do not care for them, and others are left unadopted when there are options for their care.

Decline in International Adoptions

In the summer of 2025, the Pew Research Center reported a pattern of decline in international adoptions globally. This change is reflective of a structural collapse in international adoption pathways. International adoptions to the United States, once numbering tens of thousands annually in the early 2000s, had fallen to only a few thousand by the early 2020s. The most recent years particularly show historically low levels of international adoptions. Additionally, South Korea, previously a large sending country, approved foreign adoptions of only 24 children in 2025. This was down from around 2,000 in 2005 and more than 6,000 annually during the 1980s.

The recent decline in international adoptions was not disrupted by conflict, but instead by state bans. Recently, findings of corruption, coercion, and trafficking in past international adoption cases have alarmed the public and caused heavy scrutiny. For example, in June 2025, a Swedish investigation found widespread irregularities and abuses in foreign adoptions carried out from the 1970s through the early 2000s. In some cases, children were adopted without the voluntary and informed consent of their biological parents, were falsely declared dead, or were given up for adoption through intermediaries who were not their legal guardians. Thus, the commission recommended that Sweden either phase out or ban international adoptions. Additionally, the commission suggested that Sweden formally apologize for its role and provide support services to the current adoptees and their families.

Moreover, South Korea joined the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co‑operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption on October 1, 2025. This means that South Korea now applies internationally recognized safeguards to all intercountry adoption cases. Further, in December 2025, South Korea announced it would phase out foreign adoptions over five years. It aims to reach zero by 2029 at the latest. The country’s Vice Minister of Health and Welfare said during a briefing that it will tighten welfare policies for children in need of care during the transition.

Growing distrust in the ability of existing safeguards to protect children has left many children in their countries of origin. Responding to reports of child abuse is important, but many children previously benefited from safe placement abroad. International adoption historically provided an alternative for children in unsafe or under-resourced environments. Therefore, its restrictions increase pressure on domestic care systems to meet children’s needs.

A challenge for child protection is now balancing the prevention of exploitation when family-based alternatives are unavailable. Children deserve access to care, protection, and developmental opportunities domestically, with safeguards against abuse.

Impacts of Conflict

In times of conflict, decisions are made quickly. Around the world, children are at risk of falling through the cracks of these systems. Today, Sudan is facing a large migration crisis. More than 11 million people, including five million children, are living in poor conditions. Many families do not have safe homes. Schools are often used as housing, which breaks down community resources. Existing supports are overtaxed, causing more harm. When offices are closed and important documents are lost, many people cannot prove their identity or access other services. The lack of documentation has significantly complicated efforts to trace families and prevent exploitation. This is particularly pressing for unaccompanied and separated children.

In Sudan, adoption focuses on keeping the family together. Instead of moving a child, the focus is on providing care where the child is. Sudan’s 2010 Child Act supports temporary or informal arrangements with other family members, rather than formal adoption. This system gives children the necessary care without family separation. It also follows local customs, which value families, especially in crises. However, this is not always possible, and the lack of a formal system may leave some children without aid. Without proof of parentage or guardianship, children cannot be safely reunited with families or considered for alternative care like international adoption. While this system can be beneficial for some situations, delegates must consider the value of informed decisions in the process.

This situation is similar to many others around the world. In Ukraine, official international adoptions were suspended after martial law was declared in 2022. While this policy aimed to prevent wrongful adoptions, it did not eliminate the informal or illegal movement of children. Suspending formal systems without safeguards thus created gaps in oversight where trafficking risks increased. In response, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution in December 2025 demanding the immediate return of Ukrainian children illegally transferred or deported during the conflict.

Conclusion

Despite existing safeguards, many children remain at risk due to gaps in documentation, support, and protective systems. Delegates in UNICEF must continue to address emerging challenges in child welfare. The best interests of children should guide all policies and interventions. Strengthening care systems, safeguarding children from exploitation, and supporting well-being are at UNICEF’s core.

Bibliography

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