– We have investigated Bufir’s handling and have concluded that the handling is a bureaucratic panic reaction to a possible unfortunate practice This is what lawyer Mette Yvonne Larsen says on behalf of around 60 people who want to become adoptive parents. There has long been a storm surrounding adoptions from abroad. Both VG and news have previously revealed stories about kidnapping, false documents and human trafficking. Mette Yvonne Larsen represents the group that is notifying a possible lawsuit. Photo: Magnus Skatvedt Iversen / Magnus Skatvedt Iversen / news Children and Family Minister Kjersti Toppe (Sp) asked Bufdir in 2023 to reassess the adoption permits. The directorate recommended a temporary suspension. The government has gone against this recommendation, but it is Bufdir that gives the permit, and they have chosen to withdraw or not renew the permits for a number of countries. This means that, in practice, only Colombia is open to Norwegians to adopt from. Families who have applied from other countries have had to end the processes. The group Larsen represents believes that they have been badly affected by Bufdir and the Ministry of Children and Families’ handling of their adoption cases. On Tuesday evening, Larsen sent a letter to Minister for Children and Families Kjersti Toppe (Sp). There it appears that the adoption applicants feel that the process has been bad. Now they want to sue the state, if the complaints are not received. Larsen tells news that the adoption applicants are very affected. They experience that life is in many ways put on hold. Stopped adoption from several countries Tomas Jahr and his wife Christina are two of the people in the group. – I’m devastated, really. It’s completely incomprehensible, and it hurts a lot, says Christina Jahr. The couple has applied for adoption from Taiwan. They say that they have experienced the adoption process as thorough. Photo: news – We find that the authorities in Taiwan are very strict. They make several attempts to adopt the child within the country first, says Tomas Jahr. The group announcing the lawsuit has sought adoptions from Madagascar, Thailand, Taiwan, the Philippines, Hungary and South Africa. These are countries covered by Bufdir’s adoption suspension. – It appears as if Bufdir is acting in panic rather than on a professional basis, he says. The couple believes that the arguments for stopping the adoptions are not valid. – From everything I’ve read and heard, I can’t see that there are good arguments other than that they want to be on the safe side. They do it for safety. Bufdir: – Security not necessary Kristin Ugstad Steinrem, department director at Bufdir, says she understands that the situation is difficult for adoptive applicants, but that legal security for the children and their biological parents has priority. – It is our task to – as far as possible – ensure that adoptions take place in a proper and safe way, says Steinrem to news. The Directorate says they do not have enough assurance that adoptions from these countries are carried out in line with international principles for adoption. – We have not found that adoptions from these countries can be carried out in a fully legal, ethical and sound manner in accordance with the Hague Convention of 1993 on international adoptions, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and Norwegian law. Facing an uncertain future In Norway, there are three approved organizations that mediate adoption from abroad. These are World’s Children, InorAdopt and Adoption Forum. They fear that the directorate will stop all adoptions to Norway, and have previously stated that they risk closing down due to the suspension of adoptions. Adoption applicants thus face an uncertain future. Tomas and Christina Jahr say that they are unsure how the process will continue. They fear that the adoption associations will have to close down. Mette Yvonne Larsen believes that it will be very unfortunate for the children. – The possibility of foreign adoption may cease forever, and the children who were envisioned a new future will receive a counter-notice, says Larsen. Minister for Children and Families Kjersti Toppe (Sp) says she also understands that the various processes can be experienced as difficult for those involved. Minister for Children and Families Kjersti Toppe Photo: Agnieszka Iwanska / news – At the same time, it is important that we do this thorough review, to ensure that we are confident in each individual country Norway has an adoption cooperation with. She states that additional funds have been allocated to the adoption organizations in 2024. However, Toppe does not wish to comment on Bufdir’s decision or the notice of legal action, as the complaints are pending. – Complaint processing is a high priority, but has taken time due to the very high volume of cases in the adoption field in both Bufdir and the ministry. The ministry aims to make decisions in the appeal cases during autumn 2024. Published 18/09/2024, at 19.28
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Warns of possible mass lawsuit after adoption stop – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
