The Terre des Hommes International Federation (TDHIF) has recently been approached by some media regarding a complaint related to illegal adoptions from South Korea in Belgium.

TDHIF serves to coordinate and ensure exchanges between its nine operationally independent member organisations that are located in Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland.

All TDHIF member organisations recognize and strongly support the right to know one’s origins. Only a few of them facilitated adoptions. Those who offered such services in the past support people adopted in their efforts to find their origins. However, they engage in such research or facilitation of research solely upon request of the adoptees. They will not, under any circumstances, comment on any aspects of this research publicly, as the stories of adoptees are theirs only.

International adoptions have not always respected the rights of children and their families. TDHIF recognises that, in the past, irregular practices have occurred, sometimes with serious consequences. These situations call for reflection, responsibility, and support for those affected. All TDHIF member organisations are committed to promoting children’s rights, ensuring their protection, and upholding the principle that the best interests of the child must always prevail and guide our actions.

At this time, neither the TDHIF nor any of its member organisations currently have knowledge of what organisation is implicated in the opening of the judicial process in Belgium.