Wrongheaded ‘Rescue’

by Bill Livermore

When Idaho Baptist church members were recently arrested for trying to take 33 Haitian children out of the country without proper documentation, many here in the U.S. applauded the group for take-charge altruism in the midst of chaos. However noble the group’s intentions may have been, this action represents the single worst prescription for protecting vulnerable children throughout the world.

That’s because to save children everywhere from slavery and exploitation, we need governments to strictly enforce the rule of law. The detained church members apparently placed themselves above Haitian law. The harm they did by ignoring the established laws of Haiti far outweighs any good they might have done for these few children.

When it becomes possible, Haiti should vigorously investigate the church members. Based on initial reports, the authorities may have reason to charge them with kidnapping and even human trafficking. It appears that there were a number of children in the group who not only have parents but also had no idea where they were going. One girl told a relief worker that she thought she was on her way to a summer camp. What’s immediately clear is that there are no circumstances where children should ever be placed in the care of individuals without a process in place to ensure the children’s safety and rights.

For decades, Haiti has been fertile ground for human traffickers who pray on the vulnerabilities of the poor and those in crisis. Traffickers have exported Haiti’s children as part of illegal adoption schemes or worse, for their exploitation as sexual and domestic slaves. Following the recent earthquake, there is growing concern by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and relief organizations like Save the Children that these activities are on the rise.

This is nothing new. Natural disasters around the world historically have left thousands of children at risk of exploitation. Following the 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia, reports from UNICEF that children were being prayed on by pedophiles and human traffickers led Scotland Yard to establish a special unit to address the issue. Aid agencies in India have documented a pattern of increased trafficking following floods and other natural disasters that have forced thousands of children into brothels and other forms of slave labor.

The world is increasingly outraged by this.

Just three months ago, the United Nations formally established the “Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children.” These guidelines are aimed at providing a common reference for procedures, standards of care, and human rights for children who are not living with their parents. They apply to children in emergency situations, such as the children of Haiti.

We believe the situation in Haiti should reinforce the need for the immediate adherence to these guidelines by all emergency care providers around the world.

These UN guidelines are proving valuable to the dedicated and highly trained professionals on the ground in Haiti who are doing everything they possibly can to address the needs of children as quickly as possible. Relief organizations have established “safe places” for orphaned or unaccompanied children. Relief workers search the streets looking for homeless children to shelter. Pediatricians attend to the injured. Psychological counselors are helping traumatized children deal with the loss of family and the world they once knew.

As hard as it is to stand back and watch children and families in crisis, we must give the Haitian government and aid professionals the ability to do their work. Clamoring to adopt a Haitian orphan or jumping on a plane does not help.

The most important thing we can do to protect vulnerable children in Haiti and around the world is to demand that governments enforce and non-governmental organizations respect the rule of law.