Report from expert panel on intercountry adoption in Flanders
In recent years, more and more intercountry adoptees have had questions about their adoption history and the adoption procedure.
These questions came to the surface both through stories in the press and through direct reporting to the Flemish Center for Adoption. In order to respond to the various questions and concerns of adoptees, the then Flemish Minister for Welfare, Public Health and the Family, Jo Vandeurzen, decided in 2019 to appoint an independent research panel of experts . The expert panel was commissioned to conduct a study into intercountry adoption practice in the past with the aim of revising the current procedure and thus providing adopted children with more guarantees.
In August and September 2021, the expert panel shared its final findings and recommendations with the competent Minister of Welfare, Family, Public Health and Poverty Reduction, Wouter Beke, and with the Flemish Government.
You can also view the reports yourself.
Final report
Panel of Experts on Intercountry Adoption – Final Report
Partial reports
These reports are the responsibility of the researchers and do not constitute a consensus of the expert panel.
Intercountry adoption: legal framework, bottlenecks and recommendations
Malpractice in transnational adoption – adoptee questionnaire report
Malpractice in transnational adoption – report on survey of adoptees & adoptive parents
Malpractice in transnational adoption – stakeholder survey in the field
Historical-social scientific working group
Report on ethical framework for transnational adoption
There are many questions circulating about the stakeholder survey regarding the work of the expert panel. For this reason, the researchers have added an addendum and an appendix to the sub-report of the stakeholder survey in the field.
Questions or more information
We realize that this message may raise many questions. You can still contact the Flemish Center for Adoption and/or Adoption Support Point.
- The Flemish Center for Adoption is therefore expanding the hours of telephone permanence and will be available from September 2, 2021 on working days from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on telephone numbers 02 533 14 76 and 02 533 14 77.
- You can also contact Adoption Support Center with your questions on 078 15 13 27, every working day from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
All information about adoption can be found under the theme of adoption on the Kind en Gezin website.