Adoption Without a Consent in Times of International Criticism
Translated title
Tvangsadopsjon i lys av nyere rettsutvikling: En rettsdogmatisk analyse av det rettslige grunnlaget for tvangsadopsjon i norsk rett
Author
Løken, Julie
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2022
Submitted on
2022-05-18
Pages
82
Abstract
This thesis examines the legal basis for adoption without parental consent in Norway in the context of international criticism and recent case law. It responds to a marked increase in such adoptions and a series of European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) judgments finding violations of the right to family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Using a legal dogmatic method, the study analyzes Norwegian legislation—especially the new Child Welfare Act (2021)—relevant human rights obligations (ECHR and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child), and case law from the ECtHR and the Norwegian Supreme Court, including 2020 Grand Chamber decisions. It addresses foundational principles (legality, the biological principle, the best interests of the child, and the least intrusive measure), the proportionality test, the aims of reunification and contact, and procedural safeguards. The thesis synthesizes recurring deficiencies identified by the ECtHR—such as limited contact, insufficient reasoning, and outdated evidentiary bases—and outlines how Supreme Court guidance and legislative changes seek to meet these critiques. The aim is to clarify the legal requirements governing current practice on adoption without consent; no further substantive findings beyond this mapping are evident from the provided excerpt.
Afhandlingen undersøger retsgrundlaget for adoption uden forældres samtykke (tvangsadoption) i Norge i lyset af international kritik og nyere praksis. Baggrunden er en markant stigning i tvangsadoptioner og en række afgørelser fra Den Europæiske Menneskerettighedsdomstol (EMD), hvor Norge er dømt for krænkelser af retten til familieliv efter EMRK artikel 8. Med en retsdogmatisk metode analyseres norsk lovgivning, særligt den nye barnevernslov (2021), relevante menneskeretlige forpligtelser (EMRK og FN’s Børnekonvention) og praksis fra EMD og Højesteret, herunder storkammerdomme i 2020. Afhandlingen gennemgår grundlæggende principper (legalitet, det biologiske princip, barnets bedste og mindst indgribende indgreb), proportionalitetsvurderingen, mål om genforening og samvær samt processuelle garantier. Den samler op på tilbagevendende mangler påpeget af EMD – som for lidt samvær, mangelfulde begrundelser og forældet beslutningsgrundlag – og belyser, hvordan Højesterets retningslinjer og lovændringer søger at imødekomme kritikken. Formålet er at klarlægge, hvilke retlige krav der gælder for nutidig praksis ved tvangsadoption; ud over denne kortlægning fremgår ingen yderligere konklusioner af det fremlagte uddrag.
[This apstract has been generated with the help of AI directly from the project full text]
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