| Australia | Belgium | Canada | Ireland | New Zealand | Netherlands |
Australia
Victorian adoption Network for Information and Self Help (VANISH)
VANISH provides support for member of the community who have been separated from their family of origin by adoption.
We were very happy to witness the Australian government apology from Julia Gillard on 21st March 2013, a landmark victory for all those affected by adoption all over the world.
National Apology for Forced Adoptions from
Julia Gillard, Prime Minister of Australia
21 March, 2013 – Julia Gillard delivers an apology to victims of forced adoption in Australia. A powerful and movingly sincere expression of remorse.
21 March, 2018 – Julia Gillard’s Commemorative message marking the 5th Anniversary of the Australian Apology.
Text of Formal apology to people affected:
National apology to people affected by forced adoption practices (21st March 2013)
Belgium
Flemish Apology:
www.flanderstoday.eu/politics/flemish-parliament-apologise-forced-adoptions
Canada
23 October 2021
Archdiocese of Vancouver – Adoption : Loss and Healing
The Roman Catholic Archiocese of Vancouver, BC Canada has added a link to their website providing information for those who have lost loved ones to adoption:
https://rcav.org/marriage-and-family/adoption
19 July 2018
Report calls on Ottawa to apologize to unwed mothers forced to give up babies after Second World War
[ link to main article ]
This website lists the homes women were sent to and allows them to share their story.
Mums the Word
Canadian Council of Natural Mothers
Areas for Consideration of the Inquiry into the Commonwealth Contribution to Former Forced Adoption Policies and Practices: Submission (PDF).
Canada’s history of forced adoptions – CBC News – Senate report
Ireland
A panel has now called for a public inquiry to be held into institution for unmarried mothers in Northern Ireland, according to this BBC article: Mother-and-baby homes – Panel backs inquiry, and this article, published in the Belfast Telegraph: Mother-and-baby homes branded ‘one of the great scandals of our time’ as public inquiry call made.
From 2020 /2021, campaigners have made significant progress.
In the South:
Final report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes (Gov.ie website)
Bessborough – report
Taoiseach apologises on State’s behalf over mother and baby homes
In the North:
Calls have been made for an Independent Investigation.
Report on the BBC.
it is encouraging that so much is happening. We stand in solidarity with all those affected in Ireland.
30 May 2018
Irish PM apologises to 126 people illegally adopted decades ago
[ link to main article ]
The Politics of Philomena
http://mannixflynn.wordpress.com/2013/10/20/the-politics-of-philomena/ (20th October 2013)
We were pleased to see that the women in Ireland have at last received an apology for their suffering in the Magdalene Laundries.
Apology from Irish Government
(19th February 2013)
New Zealand
11 May 2018
Enquiry on Forced Adoption considered
[link to full article]
28 June 2017
New Zealand Govt. rejects call for Inquiry
16 March 2017
New Zealand Herald – Adoption by Force – a story of women who had their newborns taken from them
15 March 2017
Harrowing tales of forced adoption amid calls for inquiry
The Netherlands – 1921-1995
The forced Surrender of Babies in the Netherlands in the 20th Century
Unspoken misconduct – June 12, 2025
Historic Dutch Case of Forced Adoption Begins, Oct 2021
October 20, 2021
The historic trial concerning Dutch women being forced to give up their child in the 1950’s-1970s has begun at the District Court of The Hague.
https://ghrtv.org/historic-dutch-case-of-forced-adoption-begins
Latest from The Netherlands in 2021 – now the women are fighting back.
https://www.expatrepublic.com/forced-adoption-in-the-netherlands-now-the-mothers-fight-back/
