#House #Representatives #stop #foreign #adoptions
anpMinister Weatherwind
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 18:03
The House of Representatives wants to abolish the adoption in the Netherlands of children from abroad. Against the wishes of outgoing Minister Weerwind, the House adopted a motion from the SP asking the cabinet to come up with a plan “by which intercountry adoption is carefully phased out”. In addition to the SP, the motion was also supported by PVV, VVD, BBB, Christian Union, Party for the Animals, FvD and JA21.
Adoption from abroad has been discussed for years and the possibility became available in 2021 shut down after a damning report on abuses. Then made Minister Weerwind adoption from eight countries is still possible: the Philippines, Hungary, Lesotho, Taiwan, Thailand, South Africa, Bulgaria and Portugal.
Room: not logical and not sensible
The Chamber today called it “not logical and not wise” to now work on a new system with a new foundation to be established, “whereby it is unclear what exactly the future of the intercountry option is”.
SP MP Van Nispen said that over the years he has come to believe that adoption from abroad is not a sustainable solution to protect children in the long term. According to him, moving children is not always in their interest and it is healthier for them to grow up in their own region.
He also pointed out abuses in the past, such as forgery and theft and trafficking of children. Van Nispen emphasized that many adoptions have gone well, but according to him, abuses cannot be ruled out even in a new system. The SP member underlined that a new plan from the minister for a careful phase-out “will obviously not be arranged next week”.
Weather wind: now first map out the consequences
When the motion was submitted last week, Weerwind advised against it. He said that the eight countries have been carefully selected, that the Dutch system is “child-driven”, that many safeguards have been built in and that adoption should not stop.
Now that the motion has been adopted, the Weerwinds ministry said in a response that it will now first map out the consequences and possibilities.
