Resolution calls for Belgian apology for abuses in illegal adoptions

A new resolution urges the government to help victims of illegal adoptions. The text calls for an apology from the government and a thorough historical investigation. 'But many files at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have already been destroyed.'

Many news articles have appeared in recent years about the abuses surrounding international adoptions. For example, a Flemish study into adoptions from Ethiopia showed two years ago that some children had not been voluntarily given up by their biological parents.

And last summer, a brother and sister testified about how their adoptive father arranged adoptions from Cambodia on his own. Belgian authorities were aware of an “illegal adoption network,” but nothing was done. The Arizona government promised in its coalition agreement to correct the mistakes of the past.

A resolution, unanimously approved today by all parties, makes the intention concrete. The text calls for an apology from the government and urges the government to set up a working group to conduct historical research into illegal adoptions from the period 1960-2005.

“For children who came to our country through illegal adoption, finding out their origins is a real crusade,” says MP Kathleen Depoorter (N-VA). “Their documents contain a lot of incorrect information. For example, these children were often born on '1 January'.”

The initiators demand that victims of illegal adoption receive psychological support and help with the administrative burden of changing their name or date of birth. Given that wars such as the one in Ukraine continue to tear children away from their parents, the text also calls for vigilance to prevent new cases.

'It is essential that society gains insight into what happened. Without that recognition, apologies would be gratuitous'

Young Fierens Activist

Activist Yung Fierens, who has been committed to adoptees for years, is very pleased with the plans. She points out the importance of historical research. “Victims are often dismissed as exaggerators,” says Fierens. “That is why it is essential that society gains insight into what happened. Without that recognition, apologies would be gratuitous.”

Fierens warns that the researchers are not faced with an easy task. Many documents have disappeared over the years. When she requested information last year for a Korean mother who was looking for her illegally adopted son, she learned from the FPS Foreign Affairs that such archive documents are destroyed after ten years.

"I found it unbelievable," says Fierens. "If there are only documents from the last ten years, then that is a disaster. Then nothing has been preserved about older adoptions."

risk of fraud

Due to the many abuses from the past and the continuing risk of fraud, the Flemish government decided at the end of 2023 to put a stop to international adoptions.

Then Minister of Welfare Hilde Crevits (cd&v) also asked people who still had questions about their adoption – from home or abroad – to come forward. Their files would be re-examined.

“With the research we want to show that their concerns are heard and we guarantee that adoptees, adoptive parents and birth parents receive the support they need,” Crevits said earlier.