Considering a full stop in adoption: The married couple fear that their dream will be crushed
Ea Kristine and Snorre Bakken's hope for a new family member may be dashed. Again.
The case in summary
- Ea Kristine and Snorre Bakken from Vinje have been waiting for several years to become adoptive parents, but a public investigation could lead to a complete halt in adoptions until 2025. - Serious errors and shortcomings have been uncovered in connection with adoption to Norway, and
a committee must examine adoptions from abroad.
- Children's Minister Kjersti Toppe (Sp) will make the final decision on a possible suspension of adoption when she receives the case, which will be handed over to her ministry before Christmas.
- Organizations and families who want to adopt experience great anxiety because of the uncertainty.
- The Bakken couple agree that the adoption process should be strict, but find it difficult to understand that an investigation could lead to a complete halt in all adoptions to Norway.
- In Norway, there are three approved organizations that mediate adoption from abroad.
The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by NRK's journalists before publication.
The couple from Vinje in Telemark have been waiting to become adoptive parents for several years.
Approval is now approaching, but a public investigation could lead to a complete halt in the plans until 2025.
- Then the years start to pass, sighs Snorre Bakken (40).
More serious revelations
In recent years, serious errors and shortcomings have been uncovered in connection with adoption to Norway.
Several have said that they only learned the truth as adults about what really happened when they were adopted as children.
Children's Minister Kjersti Toppe (Sp) has set up a committee to investigate adoptions from abroad to Norway. This work must be completed during 2025.
Recently, VG was able to tell that Bufdiris considering recommending a temporary halt to all adoptions while the investigation is ongoing.
Toppe will make the final decision when she receives the case, which will be handed over to her ministry before Christmas.
Both organizations and many of the families who want to adopt are now experiencing great unrest.
Went to the basement
In the warm living room of the small farm in Vinje, Ea Kristine and Snorre Bakken sit with many unanswered questions.
- We went to the cellar for a bit when the news came, says Snorre seriously.
They have waited so long.
At first they tried to have children the natural way.
It didn't work out, which was tough for the two of them.
However, when the idea of adoption was planted, life became brighter, although they have read up on the cases of adoptions that have not gone well.
- Adoption is something we really want, but are of course very aware that this is something that should go well. It must be done out of love on both sides. That the biological parents want a better life for the child, says Ea Kristine.
The pandemic and other unforeseen events in the system have also put the process on hold, but now they have received word from the organization Adoption Forum that an approval is approaching.
Outside, it is a short distance to ski slopes and a football pitch.
The children's room is ready on the second floor.
A doll's house and a small mattress have been purchased.
Ea Kristine writes down everything about the preparations in a small, blue book. The dream is to be able to give the book to their own confirmand. If and when that time comes.
The bathroom on the second floor has been newly renovated.
For the time being, the bathtub is used by nephews and nieces, but if the dream comes true, the married couple hope that one day it will be their own toddler splashing water and soap suds over the bathroom floor.
It may take time. Long time.
The couple agree that the adoption process should be strict, and believe it is important to check the children's background very carefully before they are adopted away.
However, they find it more difficult to understand that an investigation could lead to a complete halt in all adoptions to Norway.
- Anger and frustration
The couple from Vinje are not alone in living in uncertainty.
In Norway, there are three approved organizations that mediate adoption from abroad.
Children of the world, InorAdopt and Adoption Forum.
NRK has been in contact with the organisations, who say that they are experiencing a lot of unrest among the applicants .
- In our view, it is very unfortunate to inform the media about a possible suspension of adoption, and then leave these families in the dark, says Young K. Kim. He is the general manager of Verdens Barn.
They have had conversations with many concerned applicants recently.
- These are families who have been assigned children, families who are waiting to be assigned and families who are under investigation. They have suddenly been put in a very difficult situation.
InorAdopt has also spent a lot of time calling the applicants registered with them in the last few days.
- We have spent several days on the phone with people in despair, fear, unrest, anger and frustration, says Line Oseassen Onshus, who is the general manager of the organisation.
The couple in Vinje want to adopt a child from Colombia through the Adoption Forum.
Chairman of the organisation, Andrea Mæhlum, tells of strong reactions after the news became known. Several must have cried on the phone.
- It came on quickly. We had to staff up our office in Oslo to be able to receive all the inquiries from desperate families. We barely managed to notify our members before the news broke in VG, she says.
Still not decided
Kristin Ugstad Steinrem, department director for international services in Bufdir, emphasizes that the recommendation they are currently working on is not finished.
However, she understands that this causes unease.
- The assessment implies no change in the adoption field as of now, compared to previously. This is an ongoing assessment that we, as a professional directorate, believe is the right thing to do, she says.
- Consequences of a possible temporary stoppage will be part of this assessment.
In recent years, the directorate has stopped adoptions from both Vietnam, Bolivia and Madagascar.
- Great understanding
Minister for Children and Families Kjersti Toppe (Sp), says she understands that many people are worried.
She cannot comment on the content of the recommendation from Bufdir until it is finished. However, the minister stresses that the directorate is working on the recommendation on its own initiative, and that a complete halt in adoptions has not been her wish.
- I have not advocated a complete halt to adoption, she says to NRK.
- I have also rejected this in the past, because I believe there has been no basis for taking such an intrusive measure.
- Many applicants now feel a great sense of unease. What would you say to them?
- The authorities have a responsibility to ensure that this does not become burdensome for the parents, and that we quickly look at the system and the adoption permits so they can be sure that adoptions that are in the process can go ahead.
- As of today, there is no complete stop in adoptions either, says Toppe.