The Netherlands is suspending all adoptions from abroad including from Sri Lanka with immediate effect, after an official inquiry found many abuses.
The investigation focused on the adoption of children from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia and Indonesia from 1967 to 1998.
Minister for Local Protection Sander Dekker has said Dutch governments had failed for years to intervene.
The abuses included coercing or paying birth mothers to give up children.
The investigative committee found that Dutch government officials were aware of wrongdoing and that some were involved in abuses, though it did not find evidence of bribery.
According to data, 2,972 children from Sri Lanka have been adopted by Dutch citizens between 1981 and 1992.
Furthermore, 2,132 children from Colombia, 1,517 from India, 1,323 from South Korea and 1,252 children from Indonesia have also been adopted during the same period. (Global Times)
