Holding on to the Past

Abstract

In the mid-1960s, one baby in 25 was given up for adoption. Today, many of those babies' mothers want to know why no alternatives were offered to them, and an assurance that young women today will not be forced to give up their children. Reports how a group of birth mothers is now lobbying parliament for a public inquiry into what happened during the years of mass adoption. The Natural Parents Support Group believes that a combination of social pressure and poor professional practice led to a situation in which thousands of vulnerable young women were denied their human and legal rights. (Quotes from original text)