The Hague Adoption Convention

The Hague Adoption Convention is an agreement among nearly 75 other nations (including the United States) that seeks to regulate inter-country adoptions. Its mission states:

The Hague Adoption Convention protects children and their families against the risks of unregulated adoptions abroad, and ensures that intercountry adoptions are in the best interests of children. The Convention also serves to prevent the abduction, sale of, or traffic in children.

If you are looking to adopt an orphan from a foreign country, the State Department website gives a list of adoption service providers that have been accredited or approved by the Hague Adoption Convention. Likewise, the site also gives a list of providers that were denied accreditation. You can use this information as a starting point for finding an adoption service provider.