Natalie was adopted to Norway while her mother thought she was stillborn

Natalie Montaño was recently reunited with her biological mother from Colombia. And believes this is yet another illegal adoption case. Now she and other adoption activists are demanding a halt to adoptions while the investigation is ongoing.

- I have been an activist for a while, and was not surprised, because my case is not unique. What has happened in Colombia and other countries is just heartbreaking, says adoption activist and former vice-chairman of Utenlandsadopterte (UTAD), Natalie Montaño to Utrop.

Natalie was born in a clinic in Bogotá, and was then at the Lot Pisingos orphanage for nine months before she was adopted to Norway.

She says that she had no burning desire growing up to find her biological origin. But that she still made an attempt after she turned 18.

- This did not lead to anything. But four years ago I happened to come across a page for adopted Colombians worldwide, and posted without thinking too much about it, she says.

Found the mother again after 34 years

And this spring she received messages from biological relatives. It resulted in her shortly afterwards having her first video conversation with her biological mother, who is now 56 years old. She is illiterate and can neither read nor write nor speak languages ​​other than Spanish.

It is also the first time she has seen her daughter, who until now she thought had died at birth.

Natalie says her biological mother has given Utrop permission to retell her story.

- She told me this: "During the birth, they had a curtain in front of me, so I couldn't see anything." After you were born, they took you out immediately. And then came back and said "you have had a daughter", but she is dead".

- She says that she did not give me the name I had in Colombia, Nury Montaño. But that I got it from those who stole me. A child to be adopted must have a name, says Natalie.

Never got to see the daughter

Because her biological mother was never allowed to see her dead daughter.

- She said that she begged and asked to see me, but of course she couldn't. Because I wasn't dead. "I never got to see you, never hold you", she says. And she says that from then on her life stopped. And that from that moment she was broken.

Natalie says that she only understood in her early thirties how much the adoption has affected her and that she considers it a trauma. In addition, other stressful events in her life have led to her being diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder from Modum Bad.

- In the hierarchy of the horrors of what has happened in this case, it was probably the worst for my mother. At least in a completely different way. It is also very strange to think that on one side of the world I have been dead for many years, but on another side of the world I have not, she says.

- What do you think was the motivation for telling your mother that you were stillborn?

- I can only speculate on that. But there is no doubt that there is money in adoption mediation, says Natalie.

Indicates corruption

Natalie also refers to the corruption index and that Colombia still comes out poorly here, which makes it easier to exploit poor people.

According to Transparency International, Colombia's index is 39/100 in 2022. For comparison, it is 84/100 in Norway.

- How was your mother's situation at that time? 

- She worked as a maid at home with families and was in a difficult financial situation. My father was her first boyfriend and she has only good things to say about him. Their relationship ended before I was born and he didn't want to be a father. But neither she nor I hold a grudge, says Natalie

Adoption is not driven by consideration for the children

She also believes that adoption is not a guarantee of a better life.

- Although a stable and predictable economy provides security and opportunities, this does not mean that this is tantamount to a guarantee of happiness, balance and satisfaction. You simply cannot measure adoption according to a dichotomy consisting of: Poor or not poor. It is very unvarnished, she says.

And this, she believes, is largely governed by a narrative in which the global north has a kind of defining power over what is good and what is not. And that this is also supported by the notion that rich countries show mercy to the world's poorest children.

- I know several people who have been very well cared for materialistically in their adoptive families, but not emotionally and relationally. Should we then be able to say that: Yes, but then it was well worth it, wasn't it? The answer for me is: no, not necessarily.

- Deals with parents' needs

Natalie also says that international adoption is primarily about parents' needs.

- It is based on the desire of parents in rich countries to have children, where this is almost seen as a human right. Something that is supported by government and politics with substantial adoption support. At the same time, adoptees have no financial rights, she says.

- Have you been in contact with the authorities in Colombia?

- I asked for access to the adoption folder from Colombia, and had a video meeting in connection with this, she says.

In the folder there is, among other things, a document in Spanish, which we have been given access to. It is to confirm that Natalie's biological mother gave permission for adoption, and can be translated into a "surrender document". The document is signed with the mother's name and, in addition, a fingerprint.

Believes the adoption is illegal

- My mother thought she fingerprinted my death certificate. She did not understand what the document was about, because she cannot read. Her name, which is written in blue pen, is not her writing either, because she cannot write, says Natalie.

And says the document also has several formal errors, where both the mother's date of birth and her place of birth are wrong.

- There is therefore no doubt that the adoption from the Colombian side is illegal, says Natalie.

She also says that in other papers in the case file, it is stated that the mother personally delivered her to the orphanage, but that this is also not true.

- She says she never saw me. And she has never changed this story in any of the conversations we have had, says Natalie.

Got access to the adoption folder

She has also been given access to the adoption folder in Norway. And there is nothing here that is not also in the folder in Colombia. On the Norwegian side, however, the document confirming that Natalie's biological mother gave her up for adoption is missing.

She has also recently been in contact with the Directorate for Children, Youth and Families (Bufdir) after Norway opened up the opportunity for adoptees to report concerns. However, is not satisfied with the follow-up from there.

- I am not going to go any further here, because I do not trust an agency which is under investigation precisely because of the follow-up of irregular adoption cases, she says.

She is otherwise satisfied with the investigation committee's mandate.

- But there are more of us who miss the representation of a psychological specialist with a specialist field in trauma. And in addition someone with expertise in minority stress. We hope this will be in the reference group, says Natalie.

Hoping for compensation arrangements

She also hopes Norway will open up compensation schemes.

- I hope that when the investigation is finished, it will be possible to apply for compensation for those who have illegal adoptions, but also for those who have experienced neglect in the adoption home. We have also encouraged adoptees to report the latter, she says.

Natalie also believes that there are no guarantees that illegal or unregulated adoptions will not continue to occur.

- I and several other adoption activists therefore believe that all activities related to foreign adoption should be stopped until the investigation is finished, and until the results have been reviewed and analyzed, she says.

Natalie has half-siblings in Colombia, both on her mother's and father's side. She has also been in contact with her biological father, who does not want contact.

The video calls take place with the help of three people who speak English.

- Otherwise we send audio messages to each other. I have to use google translate to translate both what I have to say and what she says to me, which can be very time-consuming, says Natalie.

And adds that her biggest wish is to one day travel to Colombia to meet her biological mother.

It is not appropriate to stop foreign adoptions now

Minister for Children and Families Kjersti Toppe (Sp) explains why the government has not chosen to stop foreign adoptions while the investigation is ongoing:

- As the adoption authority in Norway, Bufdir is responsible for control and supervision in the field. The government has now put in place the investigation committee which will work for two years, and the overall purpose is to get answers to whether illegal or unethical circumstances have occurred in connection with foreign adoptions to Norway, says Toppe in an e-mail to Utrop.

She further says that it follows from the committee's mandate that adoptions to Norway from some countries should be stopped. And that the committee should then take this up with Bufdir and the ministry.

- Norway currently has adoption cooperation with very few countries, and in 2022 45 children came to Norway. Bufdir is responsible for granting operating licenses to the adoption organizations and mediation licenses for cooperation with individual countries, says Toppe.

She goes on to say that the permits for each individual country are temporary, and that when they are to be renewed, Bufdir also considers questions about extending or terminating the collaboration.

- Norway can stop adoption cooperation with individual countries if necessary, and this has been done in several cases in the past, based on just such assessments, she says.

The committee accepts input at system level

- Adoptees have the opportunity to report concerns to Bufdir. So they must report this to a body which is the subject of investigations into such cases?

- If adoptees have information they believe is relevant to the investigation at system level, they can contact the committee, she says.

Toppe further says that the committee will scrutinize adoptions at system level, and will go into a selection of individual cases to gain insight into and overview of the field. And that the committee has also been asked to accept input from individuals as well

- But if someone is worried about their own adoption, they must contact Bufdir. It is not an option to let the committee examine all individual cases, says Toppe.

Will start with external review

- Could compensation arrangements for adoptees who have been involved in illegal processes and where Norway has to take responsibility become relevant? Or who has experienced neglect in Norway?

- Questions about follow-up and consequences are too early to answer. Now we are going to start the external investigation, to get an overview and more answers, says Toppe.

- Adoption activists miss the representation of a psychological specialist and someone with minority expertise on minority stress. Is there something that will be considered in the reference group?

- The committee shall, in collaboration with the ministry, set up a reference group which the committee shall use in its ongoing work. The composition of the reference group will be assessed when the committee starts its work, says Toppe.