In Switzerland, 14 cantons want to work more closely together to help adopted individuals find their biological parents. In the past, not everything was always done by the book.

Why were there so many international adoptions in the past?

In recent years, as economic and social conditions in Switzerland improved – especially for unmarried mothers – there were fewer children available to adopt within the small Alpine state. This led to some people looking to adopt from abroad. From the 1960s onwards, there was a wave of adoptions from Asian countries, and later from South America and Africa. From 1989, there was an increase in adoptions from Eastern Europe.

Fertility issues were not always the main reason for adopting. Some Swiss couples felt as though it was a “humanitarian act”. They wanted to rescue children from poverty due to their social or religious beliefs and offer them a better life with educational opportunities.

Developments in certain countries were also partly responsible. For example, the South Korean government reduced funding for social welfare systems for unmarried mothers and poor families and instead promoted large-scale international adoptions until the 1980s. In Sri Lanka, an adoption industry developed: lawyers, social workers, midwives, chauffeurs and hotels all profited from international adoptions.

In Switzerland, 14 cantons want to work more closely together to help adopted individuals find their biological parents. In the past, not everything was always done by the book.

Why were there so many international adoptions in the past?

Prema Gopal vs Central Adoption Resource Authority on 29 January, 2025 ITEM NO.41 COURT NO.8 SECTION XII S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Petition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal (C) No(s). 14886/2024 [Arising out of impugned final judgment and order dated 17-04-2024 in WPC No. 33803/2023 passed by the High Court of Judicature at Madras] PREMA GOPAL Petitioner(s) VERSUS CENTRAL ADOPTION RESOURCE AUTHORITY & ORS. Respondent(s) [ TO BE TAKEN UP AT 2 P.M. ] FOR ADMISSION and I.R. IA No. 147703/2024 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING C/C OF THE IMPUGNED JUDGMENT Date : 29-01-2025 This matter was called on for hearing today. CORAM : HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE B.V. NAGARATHNA HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SATISH CHANDRA SHARMA For Petitioner(s) :Mr. Anil Malhotra, Adv. Mr. Ranjit Malhotra, Adv. Mr. Viresh B. Saharya, AOR Mr. Ankit Malhotra, Adv. Mr. Akshat Agarwal, Adv. Mr. Rishabh Mathur, Adv. For Respondent(s) :Ms. Aishwarya Bhati, A.S.G. Mr. R Balasubramanian, Sr. Adv. Shubham Saxena, Adv. Shivika Mehra, Adv. Astha Singh, Adv. Advitiya Awasthi, Adv. Abhijeet Singh, Adv. Dr. N. Visakamurthy, AOR Ms. G. Indira, AOR Ms. Gandeepan, Adv. UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following O R D E R We have heard learned counsel for the petitioner, Reason: learned ASG appearing for respondent no.1 and Smt. G.Indira for respondent nos. 2 and 3 and perused the voluminous contd..  - 2 - material that has been appended to the memorandum of the Special Leave Petition. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is a citizen of the United Kingdom (UK), who has adopted two minor children (twins) on 09.01.2020 vide Annexures P-1 and P-2 appended to the Special Leave Petition. He further submitted that the said adoption of the two minor children was further incorporated by a Deed of Adoption dated 19.09.2022 (Annexures P-4 and P-5), which clearly indicate that the physical act of giving and taking of both the twin children in adoption was performed on 09.01.2020 along with the performance of the Hindu religious ceremonies in the presence of relatives and friends, which is also supported by Annexure P-1/Invitation. Learned counsel submitted that having regard to Section 16 of the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956 (for short, “the HAMA, 1956”), there is a presumption as to registered documents relating to adoption. Since the petitioner herein is a citizen of UK, the procedure for adoption of children under the HAMA, 1956 by parents who desire to relocate the child abroad, as envisaged under Chapter VIII of the Adoption Regulations, 2022 (“Regulations, 2022”) has to be followed. In this regard, our attention was drawn to Regulations 64 and 67 of the Regulations, 2022, which read as under - “64. This Chapter shall apply to — (a) all adoption cases under the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, contd..  - 3 - 1956 (78 of 1956) by prospective adoptive parents or adoptive parents residing outside the country and (b) all adoption cases pertaining to countries outside the Hague Adoption Convention. 67. Procedure in the case of a registered adoption deed.― (1) In the cases where the adoption deed has already been executed in pursuance of adoption under the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956 (78 of 1956), before the commencement of the Adoption (Amendment) Regulations, 2021, the requisite documents supporting the facts of the adoption deed shall be duly verified and recommended by the District Magistrate in the format as provided in Schedule XXXV. (2) On receipt of the verification of documents as per Schedule XXXV, the Central Adoption Resource Authority shall comply with the provisions of Articles 5 or 17 from the receiving country as provided in the Hague Adoption Convention. (3) Upon receiving such a certificate, the Central Adoption Resource Authority shall issue a no-objection certificate for Hague ratified countries and in cases of countries outside the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of Inter-country Adoption, the Central Adoption Resource Authority shall issue a support letter upon receiving a letter accepting the said adoption from the Government department.” Learned counsel submitted that although the adoption of the twin children in the instant case took place on 09.01.2020, the Deed of Adoption was subsequently registered on 19.09.2022. He submitted that the said Deed of Adoption would relate back to 09.01.2020, on which date the religious ceremonies were performed in the presence of relatives and friends for the formal adoption of the children under the provisions of the HAMA, 1956. In the circumstances, Regulation 67 has to be read in a manner relatable to the date of continued.  - 4 - adoption. The submission of learned counsel was that although the Deed of Adoption was registered on 19.09.2022 which is subsequent to the commencement of the Adoption (Amendment) Regulations, 2021, the said Deed of Adoption relates back to the date of adoption being 09.01.2020. In the circumstances, there can be no hurdle in the consideration of the case of the petitioner herein under Regulation 67 of the Regulations, 2022. Therefore, he urged that initially a direction may be issued to respondent no.3/Collector, and respondent no.2 as well, for the purpose of consideration of the case under Regulation 67 of the Regulations, 2022. Per contra, learned ASG appearing for respondent No.1/Central Adoption Resource Authority contended that this is a case of inter-country adoption and therefore, the procedure as envisaged under the Regulations for inter-country adoption must be strictly complied with. In this regard, our attention was drawn to Regulations 67 and 68 of the Regulations, 2022 as well. Learned counsel appearing for respondent nos. 2 and 3 submitted that if any direction is to be issued to respondent nos.2 and 3, the same would be complied with in accordance with law. We are prima facie of the view that the learned counsel for the petitioner is right in his submissions. In the circumstances, we direct respondent no.3/Collector contd…  - 5 - and respondent no.2 to entertain the application to be filed by the petitioner herein with all supporting documents, within a period of one week of from today. On receipt of the said application, respondent nos.3 and 2 shall consider the case of the petitioner herein, having regard to the relevant provisions of the Regulations, 2022 and in accordance with law, bearing in mind the fact that the adoption took place on 09.01.2020. Liberty is reserved to the petitioner herein to seek the right of hearing before respondent no.3 either in person or through her representative or counsel. It is needless to observe that if such a request is made by the petitioner for an opportunity of hearing to her or her representative or counsel, the same shall be accorded by respondent no.3/Collector. The entire exercise shall be completed by respondents nos.3 and 2 within a period of two weeks from the date of hearing of the petitioner. A copy of the order of respondent no. 3 to be submitted before this Court by respondent no.3 herein. List on 05.03.2025.

For most adoptees, being adopted is just one piece of a multifaceted identity—and like other identity markers such as race, gender, sexual orientation, or personality, it’s often necessary to navigate feelings of uncertainty, pride vs. shame, and questions about who one is and where they’re meant to be in the world. Adoption has unique influences on identity formation as a child grows up and may require that children confront loss and feelings of rejection; it may also present distinct challenges in adulthood, particularly when it comes time to discuss family history that might be unknown. Though being adopted has its challenges as children grow into adults, many adult adoptees report feeling stronger for having navigated them—and may even end up feeling more connected to their adoptive families, their birth families, their cultures, and their inner selves as a result.

On This Page

• Growing Up Adopted
• Life as an Adult Adoptee

Growing Up Adopted

Nowadays, in the U.S. and other countries where formal adoption is common, most adoptive families start discussing adoption with their child from the moment they arrive home—thus, the “big reveal” in which a child suddenly finds out they’re adopted is less common than it once was (though not unheard of). Growing up knowing that one is adopted generally has beneficial effects on children’s mental health and sense of self. However, it also raises questions that the child will need to grapple with as they grow: What does it mean to be adopted? Does being placed for adoption mean that they were unwanted? Is it possible to truly fit in in one’s adopted world?

According to childhood researcher Sarah Alminde, adopted children can benefit from spending time with their biological family, but they must be able to decide for themselves.

- Poor adoptive parents... what a nightmare to go through.

- I would have done the same thing, fought tooth and nail.

- Where is the child's best interests?

When Anna ten Have traveled to Brazil in 2016 to find the biological mother of her adopted son, she found herself embarking on a nearly impossible task. Mothers in Brazil yearn for contact with their 'missing' children, but money for DNA testing? There is none. Anna is now changing that. "What we have seen is heartbreaking."
 

Anna ten Have (71) is currently in Brazil for the third time. This time in Manaus, in the middle of the Amazon. She and a number of other volunteers are visiting all kinds of women there to take DNA tests. Her goal? To bring mothers into contact with their children, often adopted abroad. "A test like that costs 50 euros. But most people in poor cities simply cannot afford that."

Anna from Woerden discovered this in 2016. In the 1980s, she and her husband adopted two children from Brazil. Nine years ago, she went looking for the biological mother of the youngest, Alfredo.

"We were approached by a Brazilian television program, similar to the Dutch Spoorloos," says Anna. "There were all kinds of women who signed up for the program and thought they were Alfredo's mother. Then DNA was taken from them."

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:

Kalanguak Absalonsen was born in Greenland in 1971 and adopted a few years later by a Danish family without her mother's informed consent, cutting her off from her Inuit culture for more than 50 years.

Now she wants Denmark to compensate her for her wrongful adoption.

"My mother didn't know what it meant when she signed the paper, that she wouldn't be allowed to have any contact with me," the 53-year-old told AFP in her Copenhagen apartment.

In 1975, her mother was a young widow with five children, struggling to make ends meet in Greenland at a time when Denmark had a strategy of cultural assimilation for its former Arctic colony, today an autonomous territory.

Her mother's employer, a Dane, suggested she consider putting some of her offspring up for adoption.

Charity finds ‘inhumane’ system is forcing women to defend themselves in court, sometimes from their hospital beds, while in fear of having their newborn child taken from them

Ella* gave birth to her daughter in a London hospital last week. Days later, still in the same busy ­hospital, she appeared via a laptop in a court hearing, challenging an application for an emergency order by the council, which wants to take her baby into care.

“I’m not eating properly. I can’t sleep because I’m terrified. I just want to go home with my baby,” she told the Observer this weekend. “I don’t feel they are giving me a chance.”

The use of DNA tests, banned in France, sheds light on long-hidden abuses committed with impunity over several decades: illegal adoptions, false birth certificates, etc. "Libé" has collected the testimony of children adopted in murky conditions and of a mother forced to abandon her.

In the playground, she would cheerfully answer: "My skin color is because I go to Spain all summer. The sun loves me." The explanation suited her, she is so dark and matte, and her parents are as fair as wheat. But the year she turned 10, she overheard her grandfather mention her "adoption." The ground beneath her feet cracked. The information steeped in her stomach for a long time without a word - her mother "freezes" at any attempt to discuss it, her father hardly better. Today, at 56, Blandine still doesn't know the precise circumstances of her birth. Especially since legally... she was not adopted. According to the civil registry, she was born to the Vignolles couple on November 1, 1968, "exactly as if my adoptive mother had given birth to me." No trace of abandonment or birth under X. The copy of her full birth certificate reveals nothing. "I was white as a baby, my mixed-race origins only became visible later. Without that, I might never have known anything."

When her parents die, she rummages through their documents and finds a cardboard folder stuck in the house construction plans. On this letterhead, typewritten: "The baby you asked for and I promised you