Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Over the past 60 years, over a million “orphans” were adopted by Western families from around the world. Now, many are discovering that their past was a lie. From the children stolen from their mothers during the Pinochet dictatorship to Africa’s fake orphans, international adoption is at the heart of an unprecedented scandal. We join investigative journalists, activists and researchers in South Korea, Sweden, France, Chile, Germany, Holland and Switzerland. How did this colossal,
lucrative market manage to prosper? And why does it live on today?
Even now, women are still being manipulated, threatened or tricked into giving up babies – often with the blessing of government authorities. If fraudulent practices continue today, despite the Hague Convention that has regulated international adoption since 1993, it is because the system itself is flawed and intrinsically favours corruption.
In many cases, these practices are coming to light largely due to pressure from adopted children who have grown into adults. Upon discovering the dubious conditions surrounding their adoptions, many began to search for their biological parents and demand explanations – a search now made easier by social media, the Internet and ancestry tracing websites.
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Over the past 60 years, over a million “orphans” were adopted by Western families from around the world. Now, many are discovering that their past was a lie. From the children stolen from their mothers during the Pinochet dictatorship to Africa’s fake orphans, international adoption is at the heart of an unprecedented scandal. We join investigative journalists, activists and researchers in South Korea, Sweden, France, Chile, Germany, Holland and Switzerland. How did this colossal,
lucrative market manage to prosper? And why does it live on today?
Even now, women are still being manipulated, threatened or tricked into giving up babies – often with the blessing of government authorities. If fraudulent practices continue today, despite the Hague Convention that has regulated international adoption since 1993, it is because the system itself is flawed and intrinsically favours corruption.
In many cases, these practices are coming to light largely due to pressure from adopted children who have grown into adults. Upon discovering the dubious conditions surrounding their adoptions, many began to search for their biological parents and demand explanations – a search now made easier by social media, the Internet and ancestry tracing websites.
---
SUBSCRIBE for more amazing stories, including free FULL documentaries. On Java Discover we have an incredible library of award-winning documentaries: from world-leading investigations to true crime and history, we have something for everyone!
Click the SUBSCRIBE button and make sure to set NOTIFICATIONS to stay updated with all new content!
Follow us on TikTok, Facebook & Instagram: https://linktr.ee/javadiscover
