Veronica Svéreus seeks answers about Chilean adoption while government investigates international practices in Sweden

In the aftermath of Pinochet’s military coup, approximately 2,000 children were adopted from Chile during the 1970s and 1980s. However, reports over the years have indicated that many of these adoptions were not conducted properly. There have been revelations that numerous children may have been taken from their parents illegally.

One individual seeking answers about her adoption is Veronica Svéreus, who was just three years and nine months old when she arrived in Sweden. Veronica traveled back to Chile to reconnect with her biological mother. During their meeting, her mother explained that Veronica had been placed in a temporary care facility, known as a “veckohem,” while her father was supposed to come to collect her. Unfortunately, he was arrested by the regime, and when her mother attempted to reclaim her, she discovered that the facility was empty, and all the children had been removed.

A government commission on adoption is set to submit its final report to the Ministry of Social Affairs by March 1, 2025. The commission began its investigation in October 2021, with the goal of exploring possible irregularities in Sweden’s international adoption practices. They are tasked with reviewing regulations, organization, and processes in place from the mid-20th century to the present and determining if the current system needs reforms.

Recently, there were reports suggesting the commission might recommend a ban on international adoptions, which raised concerns among adoptees and families. However, investigator Anna Singer clarified that the discussions center on how to better regulate international adoptions in the future, not on banning them altogether.