Norway's oldest adoption organization is winding down operations

www.nrk.no
25 January 2025

Adoption plans for couples or single people over 60 are thus halted.

An earlier version of the story stated that adoptions have been suspended from a number of countries, following several revelations. It is true that Bufdir recommended a temporary halt to all foreign adoptions pending the completion of the Investigation Committee 's work, as they believed that the risk of illegality was real. The Ministry of Children and Family Affairs chose not to follow the recommendation from Bufdir. Bufdir has since rejected most applications for renewed mediation permits, so that in practice there has been a halt to adoptions from a number of countries.

There has been a lot of debate about adoption from abroad.

Now, one of the three organizations that has been conducting adoption has decided to cease operations.

This is stated in a letter sent out by "Children of the World" to its applicants. The organization has received money from the authorities in 2025, pending clarification on whether they can continue with adoptions in the future, but:

"...unfortunately not sufficient to keep operations going over time as long as we cannot facilitate adoptions."

letter to the applicants in the organization

Halt in adoptions from South Africa

"Children of the World" has been in a difficult financial situation after Bufdir withdrew the possibility of adopting children from Thailand and South Africa.

Department Director at the Norwegian Directorate for Children and Family Affairs (Bufdir), Kristin Ugstad Steinrem, justifies the decision to stop adoptions from South Africa:

 

– In June last year, Bufdir suspended adoptions from, among other countries, South Africa because we considered that it had not been proven that international adoptions from South Africa could be carried out in a fully legal, ethical and responsible manner in accordance with the 1993 Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoptions, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and Norwegian law.

Bufdir elaborates on the background to the adoption suspension from South Africa

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Bufdir conducts thorough assessments of mediation permits, i.e. permits to mediate adoptions from a specific country. When Bufdir assesses such permits, the directorate reviews a number of factors, such as information about the adoption system and recent developments in the country in question. Emphasis is placed on information from several different sources.

The Directorate may withdraw a distribution permit if laws, regulations or conditions for the permit are not met.

In June last year, Bufdir suspended adoptions from, among others, South Africa because we considered that it had not been demonstrated that international adoptions from South Africa could be carried out in a fully legal, ethical and responsible manner in accordance with the 1993 Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoptions, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and Norwegian law. Given our assessment, we cannot allow adoptions from South Africa to Norway to be carried out.

The World's Children has appealed the withdrawal of the permit and the appeal is pending with the Ministry of Children and Family Affairs. Any questions about the status of the ministry's appeal processing must be directed to the Ministry of Children and Family Affairs.

The assessment of mediation permits applies to future adoptions and is not related to the review of historical adoptions to Norway.

We can also inform you that Denmark's Minister of Social Affairs and Housing also decided on 24.10.24 to suspend adoptions from South Africa to Denmark. The decision states, among other things, the following:

"Based on the Board of Appeal's recommendation, I do not believe that there is currently the necessary certainty that South Africa as a donor country can actually live up to the principles of the Hague Adoption Convention. (…)

The Appeals Board considers that the South African adoption system contains a number of system-based challenges, and that South Africa is not a donor country whose authority structure and legislation in the area of ​​adoption support and are in accordance with the principles of the Hague Adoption Convention.

" Children of the World " has appealed the decision, but pending the conclusion of the Ministry of Children and Family Affairs, the board finds itself forced to discontinue operations.

In addition to around 65 potential parent couples or single parents, five employees of the organization are also affected.

"Children of the World" originated in the Norwegian Korea Association, from 1953. Over 9,000 foreign children have been given Norwegian homes since the start.

Critical to the Top

" Verdens Barn " writes in the letter that they lack political will from Minister of Children and Family Affairs Kjersti Toppe from the Center Party, in the matter.

– It is very sad to note that the Minister's positive signals, which were conveyed in the meeting with the adoption organizations on October 2, 2024, have still not been materialized in the form of either sufficient financial support or reversal of refusals.

 

Kjersti Toppe answers:

– I think it's sad to hear that Verdens Barn is closing down operations, and that someone is now not allowed to adopt a child as planned. I understand that they are now in a difficult situation.

Regarding the criticism, she writes to NRK that:

– We have given them funds so that they can maintain minimum operations. When they are now closing down, I assume that they will now have good contact with Bufdir about a proper liquidation.

Although "Verdens Barn" is discontinuing operations, they plan to continue as a voluntary organization for those who have already adopted children through the association.

The two organizations Adopsjonsforum and Inoradopt continue to mediate adoption from abroad.

Investigation

There has long been a storm surrounding adoptions from abroad.

Both VG and NRK have previously exposed stories of kidnapping, false documents and human trafficking.

An investigation into Norwegian intercountry adoption is currently underway. This week, a partial report on adoption from Ecuador and Colombia was presented.

Several findings show unacceptable practices related to adoptions made in the 1980s.

The investigation should be completed during 2025.