Protecting Local and Global Families on the Crisis of Adoption Trafficking.
-
Enable field research and investigate cases.
-
Develop and spread educational materials based on the correct interpretation and proper implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)
-
Organize and participate in human trafficking-based forums and related fields.
-
Provide professional and peer support for victims of child trafficking.
AGAINST CHILD TRAFFICKING: THE EXPERT ON CHILD RIGHTS
From Intercountry Adoption to Expert on the Crisis of Child Trafficking: The Inspirational Life of Arun Dohle, Executive Director of Against Child Trafficking
When Arun Dohle was adopted from India to Germany in the early 1970s, little did he know that his life would take a path that would eventually lead him to become a renowned child rights activist in the fight against child trafficking. Over the years since then, he has worked tirelessly to raise awareness about the scourge that is child trafficking and has become one of the most expert voices on this issue globally.
Dohle’s journey…
Dohle‘s journey to becoming an activist for child rights began when he searched for his Indian mother. Like many adoptees, he started to search for his roots in his late teens. The Indian orphanage did not want to provide access to his file. Arun addressed the Indian Courts, and it took 17 years to finally obtain access to the desired information.
Arun was a victim and survivor of child trafficking and was forced to give up his career as a financial consultant. Through the Parents Assistance Project, he has organized searches for several Indian families whose children were kidnapped, sold to orphanages, and adopted abroad.
Against Child Trafficking – Arun Dohle assists parents in finding their children who were stolen for international adoption.
As an Indian-born adoptee, he also saw firsthand the struggles of other adult-adoptee forced into the despair of not knowing their true identity and being devoid of their biological family caused by forces beyond their control. He contributed his own resources and decades of time to helping these adult-adoptees, often using his pocket money to trace back families.
Arun Dohle and Roelie Post, Founders of ACT
But it wasn’t until he collaborated with Roelie Post, a civil servant of the European Commission since 1983 and author of For Export Only: The Untold Story of the Romanian Orphans, that Dohle‘s activism took on a more focused approach. As a transracial adoptee, Dohle faced challenges that were unique to his situation, including issues of human rights enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. These experiences motivated him to get more involved in the fight against child trafficking, and in 2007, he co-founded Against Child Trafficking with Roelie Post.
Fatima is desperate to find her child, who was adopted into Australia.
Human trafficking is a serious problem affecting children all around the world.
It is an industry that thrives on exploiting the vulnerability of others, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Thousands of people are forced into trafficking each year, with many of them never making it out alive. Arun Dohle is one such example of a trafficking child who went on to use his expertise to assist families of loss and Indian-born adoptees, ultimately making a difference in the world. Not only that, he is dedicated to protecting future children from being exploited and trafficked overseas.
At Against Child Trafficking, Dohle has been instrumental in developing strategies and campaigns to combat the global epidemic of child trafficking.
The organization has worked tirelessly to raise awareness about the risks and consequences of child trafficking and to provide expertise to survivors of this lifelong crime against women and children, communities, and nations.
Parents and family members are waiting… Against Child Trafficking USA (ACTUSA) helped fund these parents to be able to take a stand and speak up against the international adoption industry.
According to UNICEF, an estimated 1.2 million children are trafficked each year, and this number is believed to be rising. Trafficking takes many forms, and the most unacknowledged and vulnerable groups to this scourge are mothers and families living in poverty without proper protection against a 20+ billion dollar industry.
Against Child Trafficking has faced its share of successes and challenges over the years. The organization’s victories are many, including the landmark decision by the Indian Supreme Court to recognize the rights of inter-country adopted children, which was due to the efforts of Dohle and his colleagues. But the ongoing struggle to end child trafficking is complex and often daunting.
Arun Dohle interviewed on BBC
Dohle‘s work has been critical in bringing the voices of adoptees to the forefront of the fight against child trafficking.
As someone who experienced the difficulties of racial and cultural displacement firsthand, he has a unique perspective on the issues facing adopted children and how they intersect with the wider fight against institutional inequalities and biases.
Through his work with Against Child Trafficking, Dohle has achieved many successes.
Arun Dohle, Child Rights Expert, speaks at Against Child Trafficking USA Symposium in Tacoma, Washington June 18th, 2022
He has worked with other adoptee-led organizations from around the world to promote awareness and develop strategies to combat human trafficking. He has also been involved in many campaigns to raise awareness of the issue and put pressure on authorities to take action.
However, Dohle‘s journey has not been an easy one. He has had to deal with the psychological scars left by his experiences of being a child rights expert, as well as the stigma and discrimination faced by many trafficking victims. In addition, he has faced numerous challenges in running his organization, including a lack of funding and resistance from those who refuse to acknowledge the importance of the issue.
Arun Dohle advocates for parents demanding to talk to their children who were stolen for international adoption.
Despite these challenges, Dohle‘s story is a testament to the power of one person’s determination and perseverance in making a difference in the world. Through his work with Against Child Trafficking, Dohle has helped countless parents of loss and adult-adoptees escape the horrors of trafficking and has raised awareness of the issue on a global scale. His story is a message of inspiration for all those fighting against injustice and inequality in the world today.
The potential impact of adoptees in fighting institutional inequalities in the system is significant.
When we advocate for Against Child Trafficking, we can become key agents to protect future generations from becoming targets of an insatiable in-demand market. We can share and challenge the deeply rooted narratives that are keeping so many vulnerable children trapped in cycles of exploitation and abuse.
In conclusion, Arun Dohle‘s journey from adoption to the human rights enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is an inspiring example of how we can all make a difference in the world.
Against Child Trafficking USA: Adoption Trafficking Awareness Symposium 2022
His work to combat child trafficking is essential to ending lifelong exploitation that afflicts so many children around the world. As a global community, we need to support his efforts to build a safer, more just world for children everywhere.
For this reason, it is vitally important to donate to Against Child Trafficking.