Documentary highlights adoption irregularities from India to Denmark in the 1970s and 1980s

DR has just released Season 2 of the documentary series ‘The Great Adoption Theft,’ which focuses on adoptions, particularly in the 1970s and 1980s. The series highlights the adoptions of children from an orphanage in India, revealing instances where children were adopted against the wishes of their biological parents to Denmark. It exposes the challenges faced by adopted individuals in obtaining information about their early life histories.

Since the 1970s, Denmark has adopted over 20,000 children from other countries. Over the years, numerous cases have reported irregularities in adoption processes. While there is currently a general halt to adoptions in Denmark, many adoptees and their Danish parents remain in unresolved situations, feeling that Danish authorities are obstacles in their pursuit of truth regarding their adoptions. Adoptees have reported difficulties accessing their documents, with some waiting for as long as a year, crucial for locating their biological parents before it is too late.

The series does not imply that all adoptions are illegal; instead, it delves into a single orphanage’s adoptions to demonstrate that Danish adoption agencies and authorities were aware of irregularities and potential legal violations related to the biological parents in India.

DR emphasizes testimonies from families in India, particularly those involved with the Madras Christian Children Home. Many families share similar stories of poverty that forced them to place their children in orphanages, believing these institutions would provide education. These families have expressed that they never consented to adoption, viewing the entire process as deceitful. DR finds these testimonies credible due to their consistency and alignment with historical documentation known to Danish authorities.

‘The Great Adoption Theft’ is available for viewing on DRTV or Wednesday evenings at 9:25 PM on DR1.