A growing number of people in Poland try to circumvent long and complex adoption procedures and buy a baby on internet. 

A shady baby-trafficking business is blooming In Poland under the disguise of legal adoption. More and more pregnant women offer so-called “indicated adoptions” on internet, meaning that a biological mother renounces her parental rights in favour of a particular couple. A court can thus give the right to adoption to the couple, omitting an adoption centre. The procedure is quicker than the traditional route, which can last up to several years. Besides, there are more couples interested in adoption than babies available.  

The cost of “indicated adoption” ranges from 10,000 zloty to over 20,000 zloty (4,000 euro) and officially the couple pays for vitamins and medicines for the mother.  

Although the business is seen by many as immoral, it is not illegal because of the lack of clear definition of trafficking in Polish law. Polish MPs, however, are drafting a new bill, according to which any kind of transaction which involves minors is a crime, regardless of the perpetrator’s intentions. (mg/pg)