Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on June 2, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 23, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleA Swedish commission recommends ending international adoptions due to illegal practices. The report suggests an apology and aid for adoptees.
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -Sweden should phase out international adoptions, a government-appointed commission said on Monday, after an inquiry prompted by concerns that children had been taken from their biological parents without permission.
"Today, it has become even clearer that for decades, children and parents have been affected and harmed in the context of international adoption," Social Services Minister Camilla Waltersson Gronvall said.
The commission identified irregularities including illegal adoptions and other unethical practices, the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs said in a statement.
Sweden launched the probe in 2021 amid growing concerns that adopted children may have been taken from their biological parents illegally.
There are nearly 60,000 international adoptees in Sweden, the commission said in its report.
The report recommended an official apology to adopted people and their families as well as financial aid to help those who have been adopted to travel to their country of origin.
The Netherlands said in December it would phase out international adoptions over the next six years, while Switzerland said in January it also plans to end the practice, amid concerns of abuse.
Waltersson Gronvall said the government would now analyse the commission's findings and proposals.
(Reporting by Greta Rosen Fondahn, editing by Anna Ringstrom and Keith Weir)
The commission recommended that Sweden should phase out international adoptions due to concerns about the harm caused to children and parents.
The commission identified irregularities including illegal adoptions and other unethical practices related to international adoption.
There are nearly 60,000 international adoptees currently living in Sweden, according to the commission's report.
The report suggests that an official apology should be issued to adopted individuals and their families, along with financial aid for travel to their countries of origin.
The investigation was launched in 2021 amid growing concerns that adopted children may have been taken from their biological parents illegally.
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