Forced adoption apology demonstration – ITV News report

On 16 July 2025 hundreds of campaigners gathered in London to highlight the need for an adoption apology. Sarah Corker made this report for ITV News. Over 215,000 women, who were forced to give up their babies between 1949 and 1976 — that number could soar to half a million when accounting for those affected into the mid-1980s – want a formal acknowledgment of their suffering, as do the children who were adopted. The UK government has yet to respond to the findings of the 2022 Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR), which underscores the urgent need for an apology for historical adoption practices. Featured in the film is author and campaigner, Karen Constantine, herself sent to a mother and baby home at the age of 15. Karen said “We won’t be silenced or sidelined any longer. It’s time for the Labour Government to uphold the findings of the 2022 JCHR inquiry and engage in meaningful dialogue.” Many women affected by forced adoption are now elderly, facing the inevitable decline of health and mortality without the recognition and closure that an apology would bring. The cumulative trauma continues to impact their lives, with many unable to find peace or validation. The Movement for an Adoption Apology (MAA) highlights a critical need for access to personal records for mothers and adoptees, as well as the protection of these records from loss or destruction. Recent research indicates alarming suicide rates among first mothers and adult adoptees, revealing the urgent necessity for intervention and support services.