Movement for an Adoption Apology

October 3, 2011
[ updated August 2024 ]
[ revised May 2026 ]

We seek recognition and acknowledgement of the pain and grief suffered by many first parents and their children due to unethical forced family separation and forced adoption practices of the past. This can only be achieved with a full cross-party Parliamentary Apology bolstered by a range of measures to help those affected.

For decades, from the Second World War until the mid 1980s, pregnancy outside marriage was severely frowned upon. Young, unmarried, pregnant women and girls had very little choice. Under duress and at the insistence of those who made decisions in their young lives, their babies were taken to be adopted, children who were not adopted often languished in care. Mothers were denied information about welfare services available at the time, including housing and financial support.

There was no question of these women being found to be unfit mothers; they were simply prevented from becoming mothers at all.

These experiences traumatised many women, resulting in years, in some cases a lifetime of mental and/or physical ill health. Many were unable to have more children.
In some instances, despite wishing to remain involved, the fathers were refused a say in their child’s future – because the child was classified as illegitimate. These fathers also became unwilling parties to these adoptions.

When they were infants, the impact and lasting effects on our children were not considered. Now they are adults they can tell the world what being adopted means for them. Adopted people face many difficulties, including limited or no access to medical information, problems with official documentation and the emotional impact of what was done to them without their consent.

Despite a Parliamentary Inquiry held in 2021/2022, which produced a damning report entitled “The Violation of Family Life”, we appear to be no closer to formal recognition of the cruelty, damage and injustices inflicted on young, vulnerable mothers and their new-born babies.

We call on the Labour Government to do the right thing and issue a formal public apology to all affected and implement the measures recommended by MAA and by the Adult Adoptee Movement (AAM) so that that everyone who has been traumatised by these experiences is able to receive the help and support they need.

Time is running out.
People are dying.
We need justice now.