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Forced Adoptions Memorial ("Empty Arms - Broken Lives")Print Page 
Two sculptures, titled Empty Arms – Broken Lives acknowledge the people whose lives have been affected by forced adoption in Australia.
The memorial sculptures have been donated to the Town of Victoria Park by the Association Representing Mother’s Separated from their children by adoption (ARMS), and were funded by the Department of Social Services, through grants from Forced Adoption Support Service (FASS) at Relationships Australia WA.
Forced adoption in Australia was the practice of taking babies from unmarried mothers, against their will, and placing them for adoption. In 2012 the Australian Senate Inquiry Report into Forced Adoption Practices found that babies were taken illegally by doctors, nurses, social workers and religious figures, sometimes with the assistance of adoption agencies or other authorities, and adopted to married couples. Some mothers were coerced, drugged and illegally had their consent taken. Many of these adoptions occurred after the mothers were sent away by their families 'due to the stigma associated with being pregnant and unmarried'.The removals occurred predominantly in the second half of the twentieth century. It was a practice which has been described as 'institutionalised baby farming.
On 21 March 2013 in the Great Hall at Parliament House Canberra, then Prime Minister Hon Julia Gillard delivered a National Apology to those affected by Forced Adoption and/ or removal practices and policies within Australia. Acknowledging the unjust and often illegal acts used in coercing Mothers to give up babies for adoption (now referred to as “Forced Adoption”) and recognising the ongoing mental suffering and life-long effects on all impacted by adoption.
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Source: MA
The memorial sculptures have been donated to the Town of Victoria Park by the Association Representing Mother’s Separated from their children by adoption (ARMS), and were funded by the Department of Social Services, through grants from Forced Adoption Support Service (FASS) at Relationships Australia WA.
Forced adoption in Australia was the practice of taking babies from unmarried mothers, against their will, and placing them for adoption. In 2012 the Australian Senate Inquiry Report into Forced Adoption Practices found that babies were taken illegally by doctors, nurses, social workers and religious figures, sometimes with the assistance of adoption agencies or other authorities, and adopted to married couples. Some mothers were coerced, drugged and illegally had their consent taken. Many of these adoptions occurred after the mothers were sent away by their families 'due to the stigma associated with being pregnant and unmarried'.The removals occurred predominantly in the second half of the twentieth century. It was a practice which has been described as 'institutionalised baby farming.
On 21 March 2013 in the Great Hall at Parliament House Canberra, then Prime Minister Hon Julia Gillard delivered a National Apology to those affected by Forced Adoption and/ or removal practices and policies within Australia. Acknowledging the unjust and often illegal acts used in coercing Mothers to give up babies for adoption (now referred to as “Forced Adoption”) and recognising the ongoing mental suffering and life-long effects on all impacted by adoption.
Location
| Address: | Salford Street, Read Park, Victoria Park, 6100 |
|---|---|
| State: | WA |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -31.976969 Long: 115.898938 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Sculpture |
|---|---|
| Monument Theme: | Culture |
| Sub-Theme: | Community |
Dedication
| Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Thursday 21st March, 2019 |
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Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au
