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Sat, Nov 21 2009
The price of a Bulgarian baby in Greece is 18 000 euro, expert says
Photo: Nadezhda Chipeva
Bulgarian children were the largest number of all children victims of human trafficking in Greece, Bulgarian National Anti-Trafficking Commission chief secretary Antoaneta Vassileva was quoted by Bulgarian news agency Focus as saying on April 7 2009.
"Because of demographic problems, there is high demand for children in Greece," she told a forum on fighting human trafficking. The event was organised by the National Investigative Service and RiskMonitor foundation.
In 2008, there were seven cases of trafficking of Bulgarian babies, most of whom were destined for Greece, she said.
According to her, the price for a baby boy was 18 000 euro and for a baby girl between 13 000 and 14 000 euro. Usually the money was paid in two transactions, she said, but in most cases the mother - usually of Roma origin - got no more than 3000 euro.
If the buyers did not like the baby very much, the price could go down, she said.
Vassileva said that hospitals were well aware of the trafficking scheme. Usually a baby that was to be trafficked was not registered when born or it was registered as a child with a Greek father.
Lawyers and notaries were also involved in the scheme.
A major problem was that no one in Bulgaria kept a record of pregnant women who leave the country, meaning that there was no means of recording when a woman left the country pregnant but returned without a child.
"Because of demographic problems, there is high demand for children in Greece," she told a forum on fighting human trafficking. The event was organised by the National Investigative Service and RiskMonitor foundation.
In 2008, there were seven cases of trafficking of Bulgarian babies, most of whom were destined for Greece, she said.
According to her, the price for a baby boy was 18 000 euro and for a baby girl between 13 000 and 14 000 euro. Usually the money was paid in two transactions, she said, but in most cases the mother - usually of Roma origin - got no more than 3000 euro.
If the buyers did not like the baby very much, the price could go down, she said.
Vassileva said that hospitals were well aware of the trafficking scheme. Usually a baby that was to be trafficked was not registered when born or it was registered as a child with a Greek father.
Lawyers and notaries were also involved in the scheme.
A major problem was that no one in Bulgaria kept a record of pregnant women who leave the country, meaning that there was no means of recording when a woman left the country pregnant but returned without a child.
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Most likely, the babies are sold to childless couples in Grece, especially if the baby has been registered as having a Greek father. One more example of illegal adoption.
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained .
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained .
1-Why are babies being sold.
is it becuase birth rate in greece is low?
2- what is the future of those babies.... Problem is not just now. babies being sold .. it is after.. may be girls are put into dirtly body selling business. does any body has clue about this..
What is happening in our country? Babies disappearing from Sheinovo maternity, or being sold abroad, trafficking of young girls and women? Measures should be taken immediately on the part of the Bulgarian government, civil society and foreign authorities involved in these crimes.
- You are right Christiana!!! I just hope they don´t buy the less desirable children for organs. Usch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
'If the buyers did not like the baby very much, the price could go down'? Why on earth would they buy the baby if they didn't like it very much? This is a shocking story
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