Controversy Erupts Over International Adoptions to Sweden Amid Allegations of Abuse
Adoptionscentrum faces serious allegations concerning international adoptions, with government investigations examining claims of child theft and irregular practices.
Key Points
- • Adoptionscentrum has facilitated over 25,000 adoptions since 1969.
- • Government investigation may halt international adoptions to Sweden.
- • Allegations of child theft in countries like China, Colombia, and Chile.
- • Number of international adoptions in Sweden has dramatically decreased in recent years.
Adoptionscentrum, a nonprofit organization responsible for facilitating over 25,000 adoptions to Swedish families since 1969, is facing serious allegations concerning irregular practices in international adoptions. A new government investigation, led by Anna Singer, could potentially halt all international adoptions to Sweden as it examines these claims. Wilhelm Kaldo, the former chair of Adoptionscentrum, has voiced concerns that the investigation projects an implication that all past adoptions were flawed or illicit. He stated, "We may have been exploited by other parties during the adoption process."
Current reports reveal troubling cases involving alleged child thefts linked to countries such as China, Colombia, and Chile. Kaldo noted that, while Swedish adoption documents appeared legitimate—often describing children as "abandoned" or "found"—the actual circumstances surrounding the origins of these children remain unclear. Since 2021, Chile has been conducting a criminal investigation concerning the adoption of children to the Western world, while a truth commission in South Korea has classified these adoptions as a violation of human rights.
Margret Josefsson, another leading figure at Adoptionscentrum, admitted to the presence of inaccuracies in adoption papers and acknowledged their organization should have questioned the origins more rigorously. She expressed that while Adoptionscentrum always welcomes scrutiny, they had previously been unaware of the extent of child theft allegations.
Worryingly, the number of international adoptions in Sweden has plummeted—from 941 children adopted in 1985 to just 36 in the past year. Both Kaldo and Josefsson fear that an outright stoppage of international adoptions might adversely affect vulnerable children who depend on these processes for a chance at family life. Despite the challenges, Adoptionscentrum continues to advocate for adoption as a critical avenue for children without parents to find stability and care.
As the investigation progresses, the impact on future adoptions in Sweden remains uncertain, sparking significant discussions within the public and political spheres about the responsible management of international adoptions.