In recent years, several mediums have written about adoptees from abroad who have experienced coming to Norway illegally. In 2020, news wrote about John Erik Arsheim, who over 30 years ago was kidnapped from his biological family in Colombia and adopted to Norway. Subsequently, Arsheim has been contacted by several people who doubt their adoption history. The government will now examine the adoption system. – We see that violations of the law have been uncovered in the review of other European countries and we want to make sure that this has not happened here. Therefore, we want to have a review of the system for international adoption, says Minister for Children and Families Kjersti Toppe (Sp) to news. Do not suspect anything illegal Toppe also says that they have no reason to suspect that Norwegian adoptees have come here illegally. – Then she must have been living under a rock, says Angelica Bråten, chairwoman of Utad – the organization for foreign adoptees in Norway. Angelica Bråten says Utad several people have contacted Utad and suspect that they are in Norway on an illegal basis. Photo: news Bråten says that there have been so many stories covered in the media about adoptees who have experienced coming here illegally, that it is bold to claim. Uma Feed also thinks so. She is part of the Norwegian Korean Rights Group (NKRG), which works to investigate the extent to which foreign adoptees’ human rights are taken care of before, during and after adoption. – We have several stories and cases that we know are illegal adoptions, says Feed. – We are disappointed It is the Directorate for Children, Youth and Families (Bufdir) that is responsible for the review. In this way, there will initially be an internal investigation. Feed reacts to that. – We are incredibly disappointed, she says and adds: – An investigation cannot be carried out internally. How can one look internally at one’s own system with a critical eye? NKRG wants an investigation that looks at the adoption system over a lifetime. Both before, during and after the adoption has been completed. – We would very much like to take part in this investigation and have access. It is a demand we will make. Uma Feed says that NKRG will have an investigation that looks at the adoption system before, during and after adoption. Photo: Astrid Walle Toppe says that this internal investigation is the best way to do it. – When the governing authorities scrutinize the governing authorities, isn’t there a certain danger of a buck and a sack of oats problem? – We have considered that this is the best way to do it now. That someone gives the directorate this task and that they go through it at system level, says Toppe. – Then we’ll see what this one brings. It may be relevant with other types of reviews, for example external, if you see the need for it, she adds. The association Adoption Forum is also open to such a review if BFD deems it necessary. In that case, they will contribute what they can. – It is up to the governing authorities in Norway to assess this, but our opinion is that the associations and countries follow and have followed the applicable laws and regulations. Will not go through individual cases Several countries, including Sweden and Denmark, have initiated investigations into adoptions from abroad because it is feared that the children have been stolen from their parents or bought by criminals. Toppe says that the review will mainly be based on the investigation of other countries to see if Norway has used the same actors where violations of the law have been discovered. – In the main, we must look at the system and processes to see that there are no weaknesses in them that could mean that there is a risk that an offense has occurred. Basically, they will not go through individual cases, according to the minister. The chairman of Utad, Angelica Bråten, believes it is important to include individual stories in the investigation. – I think that without including the simple stories, important information can be missed. She points out that several people have contacted Utad and suspect that they are in Norway on an illegal basis. – I also think that there are many stories where someone has been found on the stairs or in the street, and then I think that a bell should be rung. There are some red flags here, concludes Bråten.
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The government will scrutinize foreign adoptions – news Norway – Overview of news from various parts of the country
