What is Adopsjonsforum?

05.03.2013

Adopsjonsforum is a Norwegian child welfare association, whose main activity is finding adoptive families in Norway for orphaned and abandoned children from other countries. Adopsjonsforum is the largest of the three accredited adoption associations in Norway, and has more than 3,000 member families. Over the recent years 130 – 300 children who cannot be placed in a permanent family in their country of origin, have been adopted annually by Norwegian families through our association. Since the early 1970–ies more than 9,100 children from 28 countries on 4 continents have received loving parents through our efforts. With such a long history of placing children for adoption, post–adoption service is an important part of our activities.

In addition to finding families for children, we also work in a more general way to promote adoption as a child welfare option benefiting not only for the children but also their new parents, the majority of which are involuntary childless couples. In addition to being a lobby group for adoption rights in our country, we work on the international scene, where we sponsor, support or take part in meetings concerning adoption rules and ethics. Adopsjonsforum is a founding member of both the Nordic Adoption Council (NAC), which covers Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, and EurAdopt, an association of recognised adoption mediators in 12 Western European countries.

Together with the other member organisations of NAC and EurAdopt, we advocate intercountry adoption as an option in child welfare only when pursued in the best interest of the child, with respect for his or her fundamental rights and according to the principle of subsidiarity. The principle of subsidiarity implies that before the authorities of the child's country of origin allow an intercountry adoption, they must determine that the child can not be suitable placed in a family in that country. NAC and EurAdopt have elaborated Ethical rules that the member organizations must follow. These rules serve as a supplement to international instruments, such as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co–operation with Respect to Intercountry Adoption.

In addition to its adoption–related activities, Adopsjonsforum has a program where aid and assistance is given to disadvantaged children who cannot be adopted.

Once or twice a year Adopsjonsforum publishes a newsletter in other languages. Click here to read the latest English version (No 20 – February 2011).

You can also download general information, click here.

Our latest Annual report in English (2009) is available here.

The Norwegian Central Authority for adoption matters is the Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs, also known by its Norwegian abbreviation Bufdir. Click here for their information page in English concerning intercountry adoption. This page has links to the Norwegian adoption law etc.

If you have comments or questions, please send a message to info@adopsjonsforum.no, write to Adopsjonsforum, Post Box 2364 Solli, N–0201 Oslo, call us at + 47 23280800 or send a fax to + 47 23280801.