- 24 - The lack of control by the institutions responsible for providing protection to Guatemalan children resulted in a lucrative business and the consequent establishment of structures that, to respond to the demand, engaged in recruitment using threats and coercion taking advantage of the vulnerable situation of the mother, and the theft or purchase of children to send them abroad. […] This explains the establishment of transnational organized criminal networks which led to expressions of concern at the international level by international bodies, especially those of the United Nations, and to the suspension of procedures for the intercountry adoption of Guatemalan children by some European countries following a resolution of the European Parliament.60 58 Cf. CICIG, Report on irregular adoptions in Guatemala, p. 20 (evidence file, folios 3014 a 3018). 59 Cf. CICIG, Report on irregular adoptions in Guatemala, p. 20 (evidence file, folio 3017). CICIG, Report on irregular adoptions in Guatemala, p. 27 (evidence file, folio 3024), and Cf. expert opinion of Norma Angélica Cruz Córdova provided by affidavit on May 9, 2017 (evidence file, folio 7065). 60 Written version of the expert opinion provided by Jaime Tecú during the public hearing held before this Court (merits report, folio 1100). 61 Peace Secretariat, “Las adopciones y los derechos humanos de la niñez Guatemalteca, 1977-1989,” 2009, p. 89 (evidence file, folio 3633). 62 Cf. CICIG, Report on irregular adoptions in Guatemala, p. 41 (evidence file, folio 3038). Similarly, expert witness Norma Angélica Cruz Córdova indicated that “children who were vulnerable or who experienced some kind of illtreatment were sought in order to declare them abandoned and they were then given up for adoption without undertaking any pertinent investigations.” Expert opinion of Norma Angélica Cruz Córdova provided by affidavit on May 9, 2017 (evidence file, folio 7065). 63 Cf. Social Welfare Secretariat, Human Rights Office of the Archbishopric of Guatemala and others, “Adopciones en Guatemala ¿protección o mercado?”, November 2007 (evidence file, folios 3136 to 3138). 64 Social Welfare Secretariat, Human Rights Office of the Archbishopric of Guatemala and others, “Adopciones en Guatemala ¿protección o mercado?”, November 2007 (evidence file, folio 3136). 65