CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — An Australian inquiry has called for the government to apologize and offer compensation to thousands of unwed mothers who were forced to give up their babies for adoption in the late 20th century.
The Senate committee report says that unwed mothers were pressured, deceived and threatened into giving up their babies from World War II until the early 1970s so they could be adopted by married couples.
Committee chairwoman Sen. Rachel Siewert said Wednesday: “If it wasn’t illegal, it was unethical.”
Around 100 mothers who gave up babies and adults who had been adopted sat in the Senate public gallery, applauding and weeping as the report was presented.
