https://www.mbs.news/en/2020/06/minister-intervenes-in-investigation-into-forced-adoption-bossche-organization-fiom-sidelined.htmlMinister intervenes in an investigation into forced adoption: Bossche organization FIOM sidelined
June 6, 2020
It is estimated that some 15,000 children were forcibly relinquished between 1958 and 1984.
The story of parents who gave up their child against their will and of those children themselves was not safe at the ‘registration point’ set up for them. Reports were not always drawn up correctly and privacy was not guaranteed, acknowledges responsible Minister Sander Dekker. The government is currently conducting a major investigation into domestic adoption between 1958 and 1984. During that time, many children of mothers who had become unwanted pregnant were housed in transit homes. About 15,000 children were then put up for adoption. The Verwey Jonker Institute (VJI) is conducting further research into domestic adoption on behalf of Dekker. That should reveal whether this was indeed sometimes under pressure or even coercion and how often. Distance mothers and adopted children were able to report to the Bossche FIOM foundation and the ministry, which then forwarded them to the VJI. However, ‘at least in one situation’ their story is not well recorded by FIOM, Dekker admits in answers to questions from Member of Parliament Vera Bergkamp (D66). In addition, the ministry interview reports were not kept according to privacy guidelines. This data breach was reported to the Dutch Data Protection Authority. The records stored in the department are destroyed. Distance parents and adopted children do not always seem to know that they can view and correct their reports. They are still asked if they want to. News reporters are now expressly asked the same question. Participants in the study previously expressed criticism. They found it strange that FIOM in Den Bosch, a specialist in descent questions, did the intake interviews for the study. The minister has now sidelined FIOM. Therefore, from now on, intake interviews are only conducted by the VJI. New applicants are explicitly asked if they want to view or correct the report. Fiom employees or ministry officials no longer hold preliminary interviews. And anyone who had previously registered will still be asked whether he or she wants to view or correct the report. Participants previously also criticized the fact that they did not receive reports or that they were incomplete. The minister sees that too. “That needs to be fixed,” he wrote in his response.
More than 670 distant mothers have reported to the reporting center to tell their often sad story about adoption and renunciation. The reporting point would be open until 1 June. At least that will remain open until July. The VJI cannot proceed with the investigation until all participants have had the opportunity to view their reports. This is therefore delayed, Dekker warns. FIOM responded to its role in the investigation last week. “If something is wrong in the reports, I think it is of course very much,” said director Ellen Giepmans at the time. “If there are errors in reports, I regret it. But it remains human work.”
Participants find it strange that FIOM is involved in the investigation, while the foundation has also made files and played a role in whether or not to find biological families. FIOM itself believes that its role is not that bad. Director Ellen Giepmans previously said to Omroep Brabant about this: “We are the registration point where people can tell their story. We make notes of that story and they go to the Verwey-Jonker Institute. On the basis of this, they look with whom they can want an interview. ”
Mother Salvation in Breda was such a transit house. Sille Dohmen from Den Bosch was brought to Mother Heil in 1978 shortly after her birth and she stayed there during her first year of life. Then she was given up for adoption. Sille had a happy childhood, but when she went looking for her biological father, FIOM didn’t get the cooperation she hoped for. ‘Investigation into abuses in forced distance and adoption is not going well’
