In Case You Needed Another Reason Not to Support Unicef (updated)

October 16, 2007 at 11:55 pm | In AdoptThis! |
Tags: adoption, guatemala, UNICEF

I got this link to Multicultural Toybox (which is a pretty awesome site in and of itself) from my one of my must-read bloggers, cloudscome. Unicef, the oh-so-enlightened guardian of children, is using black-face in an advertising campaign (!).

Unicef is opposed to inter-country adoption, and has been very virulently anti-adoption in Guatemala. What they say is that they “believe that children should remain within their extended families or communities, whenever possible.” I don’t have a problem with that. What I do have a problem with is the fact that they have essentially offered Guatemala money for orphanages, etc. if and only if they stop adoptions.

If UNICEF really cared about children, imho, they would address adoptions by working to change the root causes of the poverty, racism, misogyny and lack of access to health care and nutrition that force so many women to place their children for adoption in the first place - without requiring that adoptions be stopped prior to offering that aid.

I’m working on a little flyer, in the shape of a twenty-dollar bill, that I can put in kids’ UNICEF boxes this Halloween. It will explain that this is money I would have given to UNICEF, explain why I am not giving money this year, and ask that the recipient forward this “bill” along with any other donations they collect to UNICEF so they can see how much their short-sighted policy is costing them.

If you’d like me to send you the pdf once it’s done, drop me an email. In the meantime, watch this:

And if you need something to cheer you up once you’ve done that, check out this.

UPDATE:

I’ve gotten a few comments on this post, urging me not to single-handedly destroy UNICEF and the important work that this great organization does. Interestingly, most of them come from people with IP addresses that belong to UNICEF. Hi UNICEF staffers! Thanks for the full disclosure, folks! To follow up on their comments…

Kendra (UNICEF USA ip address) says: “Please check the facts before jumping to such an ugly and unfounded conclusion about this organization (and before taking such destructive action), that has always stood first and foremost for the welfare of children.”

And Linda (UNICEF USA ip address) says: “Do you all really believe everything you read on the internet?? I would recommend that you read one step further, talk to someone in the organization and learn the facts, not the gossip.”

What makes you jump to the conclusion that I haven’t checked the facts, Kendra & Linda? The blackface ad isn’t a fact? Yes, I’d say using racist strategies to tug on heartstrings is standing first and foremost for the welfare of children. Why do you make the gratuitous and condescending assumption that my readers and I haven’t done our research (why yes, I’m sure we’ll get an unbiased perspective talking to someone in the organization).

The Convention on the Rights of the Child states that (article 6) “every child has the inherent right to life” and that parties to the Convention “shall ensure to the maximum extent possible the survival and development of the child.”

Article 18 states that “For the purpose of guaranteeing and promoting the rights set forth in the present Convention, States Parties shall render appropriate assistance to parents and legal guardians in the performance of their child-rearing responsibilities and shall ensure the development of institutions, facilities and services for the care of children… States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that children of working parents have the right to benefit from child-care services and facilities for which they are eligible.”

Article 24 states that: “States Parties recognize the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and to facilities for the treatment of illness and rehabilitation of health. States Parties shall strive to ensure that no child is deprived of his or her right of access to such health care services… [and] shall take appropriate measures: (a) To diminish infant and child mortality; (b) To ensure the provision of necessary medical assistance and health care to all children with emphasis on the development of primary health care; (c) To combat disease and malnutrition… (d) To ensure appropriate pre-natal and post-natal health care for mothers; … (f) To develop preventive health care, guidance for parents and family planning education and services.”

If Guatemala observed any of these articles and provided these supports, Pepito’s mom might not have been forced to make the choice that she, as his parent, freely and legally made, to place him for adoption.

If UNICEF truly cared about the children of Guatemala it would not spend its time, energy, and oh yes, money focusing on their right to enjoy the culture of malnutrition and infant mortality by closing the “safety valve” of international adoption. Those of us who are educators are familiar with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. If your stomach is empty and you don’t have a roof over your head, you’re not going to be able to do much in the way of the self-fulfillment and cultural self-actualization that seems to be UNICEF’s spending priority for the children of Guatemala.

Until UNICEF directs its efforts to addressing the primary needs of children in Guatemala - which will, I believe, lower the number of children placed for adoption - I will not be directing my money to UNICEF. I will instead, be directing it to grassroots organizations working directly with women and children in Guatemala to help them gain the skills and rights they need to be in an economic position where they don’t have to choose between watching their child starve or placing him/her for adoption. And I will make sure that others know that this is where their money is better spent. Sorry if that cuts into your paycheck, Kendra and Linda.

I agree with you, Ina (not a UNICEF ip), that UNICEF does do good in the world. But if you compare their actions in Guatemala to their mission - “We believe that nurturing and caring for children are the cornerstones of human progress… to work with others to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease and discrimination place in a child’s path. We believe that we can, together, advance the cause of humanity.” - it seems clear to me that their primary mandate should be to alleviate the root causes of poverty - not to focus substantial amounts of time, effort and money on opposing international adoption.

28 Comments »

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I lost your e-mail address, but I’d love a copy of the pdf. What a GREAT idea!!!

Comment by Stacy — October 17, 2007 #
Wow. I never knew that about Unicef. And the video was very eye-opening (and made me teary eyed). I’d like a pdf when you finish.

Thanks.

Comment by Amylia — October 17, 2007 #
I would definitely like a pdf - what a great idea. We were just about 2 weeks away from getting a referal when the latest in Guatemala hit - so frustrating.

Comment by melissa — October 17, 2007 #
Oh my gosh! I clicked on the link not believing what I was going to see! Who, in this day and age, actually uses black-face?!?!

Absolutely ridiculous and unacceptable!

Comment by Sara — October 17, 2007 #
Wow. I had no idea. Thanks for the info, art-sweet.

Comment by Andrea — October 17, 2007 #
I am agog.

my chin is on the floor.

I am linking to YOU, because I have no words.

Comment by shelli — October 17, 2007 #
“oy” does not even begin to cover it. WTF?

I thought UNICEF were the good guys.

Definitely send me that pdf when you’re done. Not that anyone in our neighborhood collects for UNICEF, but I’ll be prepared anyway.

Comment by FosterMommy — October 17, 2007 #
We don’t get trick-or-treaters on our street but I am rather in shock about the blackface thing - who does that???

Comment by cathy — October 17, 2007 #
Would love a copy of that letter when you finish it…I keep meaning to write one and haven’t had a chance.

Comment by Michelle — October 17, 2007 #
Send me the twenty!

Comment by oneofhismoms — October 17, 2007 #
Please send me that .pdf file. I would love to put it into the unicef boxes i see!

Comment by Mary — October 17, 2007 #
Do you all really believe everything you read on the internet?? I would recommend that you read one step further, talk to someone in the organization and learn the facts, not the gossip.

Enough said.

Comment by Linda — October 18, 2007 #
Please check the facts before jumping to such an ugly and unfounded conclusion about this organization (and before taking such destructive action), that has always stood first and foremost for the welfare of children.

Comment by Kendra — October 18, 2007 #
I am appluading here…

Comment by annmarie — October 18, 2007 #
Applauding too.

Comment by annmarie — October 18, 2007 #
Please bear in mind the life-saving work that UNICEf does. UNICEF is a body made up of representatives from individual governments. I agree that addressing the root causes of the kind of poverty that leads to intercountry adoption is necessary, but it’s not something UNICEF is able to do on a global level. Can you imagine being a person from a developing country, watching wealthy people adopting “your” children? From the persepctive of poor countries, inter-country adoption does not benefit them intrinsically, but provides 1st-worlders with healthy babies. I say this as a supporter of international adoption; I don’t think UNICEF should be condmned beacuse of some of its member states’ actions.

Comment by ina — October 18, 2007 #
Bravo! Brilliant idea. And thanks so much for spreading the truth about this obscenely expensive, inefficient organization that too often does more harm than good. It is beyond time the UN and its tentacles became accountable and had the PR machine challenged in its tireless grinding out of positive spin with no basis in fact.

The organization’s behavior in Guatemala now is shameful, but the silver lining just may be the bright light now being aimed toward the dark and dirty corners that make up so much of the UN.

Comment by Sandra Hanks Benoiton — October 18, 2007 #
Thanks for this. I too was in the dark about UNICEF (although I knew there was something creepy about the way they distributed $).

Great idea about the PDF - I’d like one too.

Comment by gold star — October 18, 2007 #
Good catch on the UNICEF ip addresses! I think they’ve given up bothering with comments on my blogs that slam their gravy train, but it looks like they’re still in business.

Comment by Sandra Hanks Benoiton — October 19, 2007 #
Wow. For all your words, I seem to have none. Thanks for putting out there.

Comment by Beth — October 19, 2007 #
Great post. Send me the pdf
Thanks!

Comment by Jenny — October 19, 2007 #
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE send me the pdf when you are done. I’m actually making up a flyer also and going around to businesses that have the stupid UNICEF bags out and handing out my flyer with the FACTS and requesting that they remove the bags. You are my hero!!!

Comment by Cameo — October 20, 2007 #
Any kids who come to my house on Halloween with UNICEF boxes are gonna get a beat down.

Comment by Eddie the Mooch — October 20, 2007 #
Definitely want the pdf. I’ll pass it around to my family as well. Rockin idea girl!

Comment by dis — October 20, 2007 #
My friend Jonathan and his partner Seth had the adopotion papers signed 2 days before the raid. They were able to get their son out about three weeks ago. I have followed your blog long before you got Pepito and congrats. Email me and let me know what help I can do. Thanks, Michelle

Comment by Michelle — October 21, 2007 #
[...] In the meantime, for all those who were interested, here is my donation to UNICEF for this Halloween (right click to download). For background on why UNICEF is on my poop list, go here. [...]

Pingback by A Halloween Trick for UNICEF « Artificially Sweetened — October 30, 2007 #
International adoption has become an international trade subject to much corruption -money- because clients in rich countries opt to buy babies from poor countries. It is not about children welfare at all. It is another form of consumerism. I am sorry, I would support Unicef in here. If you want to help, give that money for development or adopt children over 5 who really need you.

Comment by Helen — January 6, 2008 #
Wow…pretty strong opinion…so you are saying that children over the age of 5 need a home more than children under the age of 5??? That makes sense, picking and choosing which children really need a home, hey? And I think it a pretty ignorant comment to say that we are buying babies??? Hmm, maybe I will try and find you when my son is much older and he can let you know how he feels about it…or maybe you could talk to my husband, who happens to be adopted, maybe he could thank you for your narrow world view!!! He’s sure glad that his parents didn’t feel the way that you do…do you know that Unicef is now working in Haiti to cause problems with International Adoption….you know, focusing the money that people give them on this because they totally have a handle on the major problem in that country! Only 1 child an hour dies of starvation there. Unicef is sure doing A STAND UP JOB!!! My congratulations go out to them! And we do give money through organizations who actually do have the best interest of the children involved to support that country. I think you need to be more well informed. Do the research and maybe talk to a famliy who has adopted or a child who has been adopted? It may change your mind…

Comment by Adopting Mom — January 20, 2008 #