UK Prime Minister Apologizes for Forced Adoption of Infants from Unmarried Mothers

(Taipei, July 2) (Central News Agency, London, July 2, Comprehensive Foreign News) British Prime Minister Keir Starmer today formally apologized on behalf of the nation to women who were victims of a "forced adoption" system decades ago. An estimated 185,000 children were separated from their mothers under this system.

Starmer, representing the state and government, apologized for a system that caused lifelong trauma, describing the experiences of the victims as a "stain on our history."

"On behalf of everyone in this country, I say to all those affected: we are deeply sorry and profoundly pained by this," Starmer said in Parliament.

He added, "The state failed to protect mothers, children, and families from harm, and for this systemic failure, I offer my sincere apologies."

Between 1949 and 1976, the British government and Christian churches established a system that forced mothers of children born out of wedlock to shamefully give up their infants to conform to societal norms at the time.

The Church of England publicly apologized last month, admitting its involvement in operating so-called "mother and baby homes" where unmarried mothers were sent against their will during pregnancy or after childbirth, ultimately leading to separation from their children.

In 2022, the UK Parliament's Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) determined that the government bore "ultimate responsibility" for the lack of protection for unmarried mothers and their children. Four years later, Ireland and Australia apologized for similar issues, and now the British government follows suit.

Starmer announced that the government will allocate £4 million (approximately NT$170.52 million) to assist individuals in accessing adoption records, subsidize intermediary services that help with family tracing, and support oral history and related research to document the long-term impact of this system.

Earlier today, Starmer met with affected mothers and their children at 10 Downing Street, the Prime Minister's official residence.

He stated, "You should never have felt shame. The ones who should feel shame are us, the state, and all those responsible for this."