1. United States
2. N.C.
3. Letter

I'm writing today because of an often unknown issue which, while often supported with the best intentions, is harming millions of children around the world: orphanage voluntourism and it’s direct link to child trafficking. Across the globe, children are being trafficked into (and out of) orphanages,  not because they are orphans, but because there is money to be made. It’s estimated that four out of five children living in orphanages today have at least one living parent and a family to go home to. Families are often misled to believe their child will receive a better life or education, only for the child to be placed in an institution that’s driven by donations and volunteer attention rather than genuine care. The United States is one of the biggest contributors. Americans send millions of dollars in donations, and tens of thousands of volunteers abroad every year. A study by Faith in Action found that at least 34 million Americans have donated to orphanages and 4 million have gone on orphan trips, many of them through church or school groups. This isn’t just ineffective  it’s dangerous. Children who grow up in institutions are at significantly higher risk of abuse, exploitation, and long-term psychological harm. Specifically, I urge you to champion policies that would: 1.    Require all U.S.-based volunteers working with children abroad to undergo background checks and receive basic training — including on child safeguarding, trafficking awareness, and cultural sensitivity. Organizations that facilitate these trips should be responsible to ensure they are not pairing children with predators! 2.    Mandate that organizations placing Americans with vulnerable children overseas conduct annual audits of the places they are funding, to ensure no trafficking is occurring and that each program includes a meaningful family reintegration plan. 3.    Ensure any organization or website that profits by advertising volunteer placements with vulnerable children includes a clear public disclaimer about the risks of orphanage tourism and the importance of ethical volunteering. Additionally, I hope you’ll consider pushing to have orphanage trafficking formally recognized as a form of modern slavery and as a “severe form of trafficking in persons” under U.S. law, and included in efforts like the President’s Interagency Task Force to Combat Human Trafficking the National Strategy on Human Trafficking and amending the TVPRA. Setting a higher standard for how we engage with children overseas is not only morally right, but fully aligned with our country’s long-standing commitment to protecting human rights and combating trafficking. Thank you for taking the time to consider this important issue. I would be grateful for your support.