Thailand’s anti-human trafficking police have been ordered to investigate a Facebook page which was allegedly offering an adoption service for parents who cannot afford to raise their baby, said Social Development and Human Security Minister Chuti Krairiksh today (Tuesday).
He said that, although the web page has now been shut down, the anti-human trafficking police will continue their investigation to track down the perpetrators who ran service on several social media platforms which, he added, is illegal even though the parents of the baby had given it up for adoption.
The minister explained that biological parents of a baby can give their baby to others for adoption, but they are be required to follow a legal process to make sure that the baby is not trafficked.
He added that any single parent who has a problem raising his/her baby can call the ministry’s hotline on 1300 around the clock for advice, and the ministry is more than happy to provide help.
A social worker, meanwhile, said in a Facebook post that a baby adoption service advertised on social media is a violation of the Child Protection Act, with penalties of up to three months imprisonment and/or a fine of 30,000 baht.
Baby adoption is a very sensitive issue and the process has to be screened by experts, such as psychologists, to ensure that the baby is not abused by his/her adopting parents.
