Danish adoptees criticize political majority’s move to resume international adoptions

A significant political majority in Denmark is facing sharp criticism from a group of Danish adoptees as they move to allow Danish couples to adopt children from abroad once again. In a recent survey by DR, all eleven parties in the Danish Parliament responded to the possibility of resuming international adoptions. Seven parties expressed support for the measure, provided that the adoption system is made more robust and secure than it is currently.

Proponents of the measure emphasize the need to learn from past scandals and ensure that future adoptions are conducted legally and ethically. However, the Adoption Policy Forum, representing transnational adoptees in Denmark, calls this a utopian vision. Yong Sun Gullach, the forum’s chairperson and a South Korean adoptee, stated, “I completely rule out the possibility of creating an ethical and defensible system as long as money is involved.”

In contrast, Adoption and Society, a national association for adoptees and their families, welcomed the proposal. Its chairman, Michael Paaske, regarded it as “fantastic news” and advocated for a swift reopening of international adoptions. He argued that Denmark should continue to provide vulnerable children from abroad the chance for a safe upbringing in adoptive families. “The consequence of not allowing international adoption is potentially that children worldwide live in dire conditions and may even die,” he warned.

While acknowledging the happiness many adoptive families experience, Gullach stressed that this does not necessarily validate the effectiveness of international adoptions or their ethical implications. She highlighted the unfairness of the adoption system for biological parents in vulnerable positions, suggesting that it primarily benefits families in receiving countries wishing to adopt.

Currently, there are about 30 applicants in Denmark on a waiting list to adopt a child from abroad, with a declining trend in international adoptions over the past decades.