Formal Apology Issued for Past Forced Adoptions
The UK government has given a formal apology for the historical practice of forced adoptions in England and Wales. The widespread practice that took place in the mid-20th century resulted in approximately 185,000 babies being taken from their unmarried mothers.
"This is an unfortunate part of our history that has impacted tens of thousands of mothers, children, and families," said the statesman issuing the apology. "The guilt is not yours. It was never yours. The guilt is ours," he added, addressing the affected individuals.
Years of Advocacy Leads to Apology
The apology is the result of years of advocacy by mothers who lost their children, adopted individuals, their extended families, and several parliamentary examinations into the matter. Although no reparations plan has been established, a £4 million support package over three years has been announced to improve access to adoption records and enhance family reunion services.
"Many mothers, youthful and vulnerable, lacking support, were manipulated, intimidated, or deceived into believing they had no choice but to let their children be taken away from them. Such a terrible thing to do," the statesman acknowledged.
A Dark Chapter in History
The forced adoptions were not isolated or accidental incidents, but rather practices entrenched across local government bodies, religious organizations, and portions of what is now the national health service.
"These institutions, which wielded power over people's lives, acted without compassion, without consent, and without dignity or proper safeguards," he told his peers. He expressed deep and profound regret to the mothers who were told they were unfit, prevented from caring for their children they desperately wanted to help and keep, and who have carried this loss for decades.
During the apology speech, some of the birth mothers and adopted individuals watching from the public gallery were seen wiping away tears, while others applauded. Other government representatives concurred with the issuing statesman that historical forced adoption was a dark chapter in our history, adding that such former practices are thankfully foreign to us today.
Support Groups and Public Response
Support groups for mothers and adopted adults will be established by the education department, the statesman informed his peers. Affected women have reported that public sector employees, such as doctors, nurses, and social workers, were involved in pressuring them into adoption due to social stigma around being young and unmarried.
Campaigners who had met the statesman prior to the apology expressed relief. One woman, who had her son forcibly adopted in 1966 when she was just 17, said, "We all need this apology. We have always been accused of giving up our babies, and we didn't give them up."
Recognition of Lifelong Trauma
The formal apology recognizes the "lifelong trauma" endured by mothers who had their babies forcibly adopted. Advocacy groups paid tribute to the many "determined women" who had long pushed for the state to apologize.
Previous investigations into forced adoption led to an official inquiry. In one account, a woman who was 16 when she had her baby in 1963, felt "cheated out of a different life." Another woman who was 16 and pregnant, had her baby taken from her moments after birth. She said, "I yelled to bring her back, but the nurse simply walked past me and put my daughter on a table out of my reach."
This state apology comes three years after devolved governments in Wales and Scotland apologized to victims of forced adoption. Similar apologies are expected in Northern Ireland, but not until after the completion of a public inquiry.
The statesman concluded by saying, "You have nothing to be ashamed of. The shame is ours."
The UK government has given a formal apology for the historical practice of forced adoptions in England and Wales. The widespread practice that took place in the mid-20th century resulted in approximately 185,000 babies being taken from their unmarried mothers.
"This is an unfortunate part of our history that has impacted tens of thousands of mothers, children, and families," said the statesman issuing the apology. "The guilt is not yours. It was never yours. The guilt is ours," he added, addressing the affected individuals.
Years of Advocacy Leads to Apology
The apology is the result of years of advocacy by mothers who lost their children, adopted individuals, their extended families, and several parliamentary examinations into the matter. Although no reparations plan has been established, a £4 million support package over three years has been announced to improve access to adoption records and enhance family reunion services.
"Many mothers, youthful and vulnerable, lacking support, were manipulated, intimidated, or deceived into believing they had no choice but to let their children be taken away from them. Such a terrible thing to do," the statesman acknowledged.
A Dark Chapter in History
The forced adoptions were not isolated or accidental incidents, but rather practices entrenched across local government bodies, religious organizations, and portions of what is now the national health service.
"These institutions, which wielded power over people's lives, acted without compassion, without consent, and without dignity or proper safeguards," he told his peers. He expressed deep and profound regret to the mothers who were told they were unfit, prevented from caring for their children they desperately wanted to help and keep, and who have carried this loss for decades.
During the apology speech, some of the birth mothers and adopted individuals watching from the public gallery were seen wiping away tears, while others applauded. Other government representatives concurred with the issuing statesman that historical forced adoption was a dark chapter in our history, adding that such former practices are thankfully foreign to us today.
Support Groups and Public Response
Support groups for mothers and adopted adults will be established by the education department, the statesman informed his peers. Affected women have reported that public sector employees, such as doctors, nurses, and social workers, were involved in pressuring them into adoption due to social stigma around being young and unmarried.
Campaigners who had met the statesman prior to the apology expressed relief. One woman, who had her son forcibly adopted in 1966 when she was just 17, said, "We all need this apology. We have always been accused of giving up our babies, and we didn't give them up."
Recognition of Lifelong Trauma
The formal apology recognizes the "lifelong trauma" endured by mothers who had their babies forcibly adopted. Advocacy groups paid tribute to the many "determined women" who had long pushed for the state to apologize.
Previous investigations into forced adoption led to an official inquiry. In one account, a woman who was 16 when she had her baby in 1963, felt "cheated out of a different life." Another woman who was 16 and pregnant, had her baby taken from her moments after birth. She said, "I yelled to bring her back, but the nurse simply walked past me and put my daughter on a table out of my reach."
This state apology comes three years after devolved governments in Wales and Scotland apologized to victims of forced adoption. Similar apologies are expected in Northern Ireland, but not until after the completion of a public inquiry.
The statesman concluded by saying, "You have nothing to be ashamed of. The shame is ours."