International adoptions - A global scandal

DW Documentary • Season 9 • Episode 106

About this episode

In the last 60 years, over a million "orphans” have been adopted by Western families. Many of them are now discovering that their past is a lie. International adoptions are at the center of an unprecedented scandal. The film follows investigative journalists, activists and researchers in South Korea, Sweden, France, Chile, Germany and Switzerland. How was this huge, lucrative market able to flourish? And why does it still exist today? In many cases, these practices come to light mainly due to pressure from adopted children who have grown into adults. After discovering the dubious conditions of their adoptions, they begin to search for their birth parents and demand explanations. These searches are often easier to conduct these days, thanks to social media, the Internet and the availability of genealogy websites.