Intercountry adoption swimming against the tide: Restitution in Samoa

Intercountry adoption (ICA) is a contested practice represented by competing discourses of humanitarianism, exploitation, poverty and wealth. Multiple factors have contributed to decreasing numbers globally including documented incidents fraud which accumulated over the last two decades. There little recompense for families subjected fraudulent removal their children, adoptive parents who are also defrauded. This article reports on troubled progression ICA, presents case novel restitution in Samoa concludes that pathways should facilitate contact reunification children with families.