In a post back in November, I referred to a report of the UK Parliament’s Human Rights Committee, which called for an official government apology for the human rights abuses of forced adoption. I mentioned that a promised government response had been repeatedly delayed, and that it was not clear whether or not an official apology would be forthcoming.
The UK Government has finally responded, today, and although it recognises that the treatment of unmarried mothers between 1949 and 1976 “was wrong and should not have happened”, there is no apology.
What it offers, instead, is a repetition of the phrase “we are sorry”.
There’s no shortage of things they are sorry about:
“We are sorry for all those affected by historic adoption practices.”
“We are sorry on behalf of society for what happened.”
“We are sorry that unmarried women had to endure this shame and secrecy.”
“We are sorry for the treatment that unmarried mothers received in mother and baby homes and hospitals”
“We are sorry that they were mistreated at a vulnerable time, and for the life-long suffering of those affected.”
“We deeply regret that so many (adopted children) suffered as a result of these practices.”
“These adoption practices were wrong. We recognise the pain and distress that occurred as a result and are profoundly sorry that so many people have suffered due to these practices.”
Being sorry for an abuse that has occurred falls far short of apologising for it.
Being sorry “on behalf of society” evades the government’s direct responsibility for setting the legal framework that encouraged the multiple abuses of forced adoption, and for the policies of public bodies like the NHS that administered it.
Constantly using the past tense and claiming that “the practices of the past will not now occur” ignores the evidence that present-day adoption practices continue to adversely affect first mothers and adopted children.
Julia Gillard, then Australian Prime Minister, showed in 2013 what a genuine apology for forced adoption looks like, and how this can give some comfort to its victims.
The UK government’s anonymous written statement not only fails to provide what was needed, it insults the testimonies of the first mothers and adult adoptees who gave evidence to the Human Rights Committee Inquiry..