Open adoption records, the human rights of adopted people, and discrimination: the case of Odièvre v France 2003

Authors: Julia Feast; David Howe

Source: European Journal of Social Work, Volume 7, Number 1, March 2004 , pp. 25-42(18)

Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

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Abstract:

The recent judgement by the European Court of Human Rights in the Odièvre v France case has denied some adopted people the right to access identifying information about their family of origin. Yet, in the UK, adopted people have enjoyed the right to access identifying information for many years. The evidence from practice and research has demonstrated the positive benefits adopted people and their birth and adoptive relatives have gained from an open record policy. In this paper, the authors argue that denying some adopted people access to information that could enhance their personal identity creates an act of discrimination.

Keywords: Adoption; Search; Reunion; Information Rights; Origins; Identity

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/136919145042000217384

Publication date: 2004-03-01