The Baby Business
Child Theft for Profit in Guatemala
Ninety-nine percent of Guatemala's adoptions are organised by private sector agencies and lawyers, who use the weak adoption laws and the internet to profit from selling babies. With the fourth highest international adoption rate worldwide, the demand is outstripping supply. Gustavo Tobar has spent three years trying to get his stolen son back. Despite a clear need for new legislation, a non-profit organisation is blocking it for fear that it would prevent families being found for older children and cause a massive increase in street children.
10.55.29.16 busy road in asian city full of buses
voiceover accompaniment as driving through streets
10.56.11.14 upset man staring at photos of children and discussing them in darkened room
10.56.45.20 Mountain range over city
10.56.55.13 multicoloured buses driving roads
10.56.59.00 children playing
10.57.06.18 man looking at adoption agencies on computer
10.57.51.19 adoption centre, kids mainly go to USA, Spain and England
10.59.37.11 white couple walking through settlement with happy children
11.00.03.05 woman talks to camera (foreign lang)
11.00.27.15 woman and man in candle light, woman crying and talking to camera
11.01.06.14 men in suits discussing adoption documents
11.01.51.07 driving along road to town
FULL SYNOPSIS
voiceover accompaniment as driving through streets
10.56.11.14 upset man staring at photos of children and discussing them in darkened room
10.56.45.20 Mountain range over city
10.56.55.13 multicoloured buses driving roads
10.56.59.00 children playing
10.57.06.18 man looking at adoption agencies on computer
10.57.51.19 adoption centre, kids mainly go to USA, Spain and England
10.59.37.11 white couple walking through settlement with happy children
11.00.03.05 woman talks to camera (foreign lang)
11.00.27.15 woman and man in candle light, woman crying and talking to camera
11.01.06.14 men in suits discussing adoption documents
11.01.51.07 driving along road to town