[Saya]

Thanks for responding. I guess it's not so much that I wonder if I'm doing the right thing by searching. I'm pretty confident about this. I'm guess I'm just surprised that no one talks about birthmothers in international adoptions in the same conversations about birthmothers in the US. So any of the progress made in terms of e.g. removing the "stigma" of placement, supporting OA, trying to ensure that birthparents' right are recognized - no one seems to ever discuss this in the international context.

I know there are cultural differences. I have been a trainer on cultural competency issues for mediators and others. But I worry that "cultural differences" can and does become an excuse to ignore individual rights and preferences. I've seen it happen.

Edited to say - To clarify, I'm not trying to say that birthparents in the United States are always treated so well, and that we've come oh-so-far. I know that that's not the case, that there is still a hell of a lot of work and education to be done. But it seems like even among who are discussing these issues, the birthmoms in international adoption don't seem to be mentioned in the conversation.