The Netherlands has suspended all adoptions from abroad with immediate effect, after an official inquiry found many abuses, foreign media reported.
The investigation focused on the adoption of children from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia andIndonesia from 1967 to 1998. Minister for Local Protection Sander Dekker said Dutch governments had failed for years to intervene.The abuses included coercing or paying birth mothers to give up children.
The investigative committee found that Dutch government officials were aware of wrongdoing and that some were involved in abuses, though it did not find evidence of bribery.
“The government has not done what should be expected of it and should have taken a more active role in preventing abuse, and that is a painful observation. There are apologies for this. And I therefore offer these apologies to the adoptees today, on behalf of the cabinet.” The system was still susceptible to fraud, and abuses still occurred “up to the present day”, the report said.
Sri Lanka babies topped the list in the adoption with 2,972 children followed by Colombia 2,132, India - 1,517 South Korea - 1,323 and Indonesia - 1,252
Dutch adoptees have welcomed the Dutch government’s apology for past failings, but say it’s just the first step in order to right the wrongs of the past. (BBC)