|  ElCiudadano.cl |  Noticias

El Ciudadano

Original article: “Cuánto les cuesta un hijo”: víctimas de adopciones ilegales piden restituir unidad de búsqueda cerrada por el Gobierno de Kast

The recent closure of the Unit for the Search of Origins and Relatives of Individuals Affected by Illegal, Forced, or Irregular Adoptions (UBAFI) by José Antonio Kast‘s government has left thousands of victims in a state of abandonment who have demanded truth and justice for decades, questioning the decision-makers: how much does a child cost?

The Undersecretariat of Human Rights, part of the Ministry of Justice, dissolved the unit through resolution No. 207 on June 22, merely four months after it began operations in February of this year, generating outrage among organizations advocating for the redress of those who were removed from their families.

The UBAFI was designed as a key tool to tackle one of the Chilean state’s most painful historical debts: over four decades of irregular adoptions that separated thousands of children from their origins. Its establishment was mandated by law under the Public Sector Adjustment Law 2026.

The unit, operating under the Undersecretariat of Human Rights, was dismantled just four months post-establishment, severing ties with the three professionals on the team. This latest cut by the far-right administration represents a significant shift in public policy aimed at repairing one of the most tragic chapters in the nation’s recent history.

«This was not an act of goodwill, but rather a law supporting the existence of UBAFI«, stated Marisol Rodríguez, president of the Foundation for Sons and Mothers of Silence, who lamented that following this closure, «we are unfortunately back to zero».

The scale of forced adoptions in Chile is alarmingly high, according to data from the organization itself. Minister Alejandro Aguilar, assigned to investigate the period between the 1960s and 2005, has documented that after 1983, over 23,000 children were taken out of the country. However, he estimates that the actual number could exceed 40,000, especially when including those who remain within national borders. This issue is compounded by a recent report from the Norwegian government, titled «Responsibility, Risk, and Trust», which documents 314 cases of Chilean children who were victims of forced adoptions in that country, highlighting that the problem transcends borders.

«This has been a continual struggle,» expressed Rodríguez during an interview with Radio Nuevo Mundo, referring to the decade-long effort they have maintained. While they have successfully facilitated around 400 meetings between separated mothers and children, the foundation lacks even a physical space to carry out its mission.

«If we bring forward this amount, what more can we ask the State to take responsibility for and that could help find them all?» she proposed.

Furthermore, the vulnerable mothers, many now elderly and some already deceased, have faced state indifference, with several being informed of their children’s survival only after applying for benefits like the Child Bonus.

«Imagine when a mother of the appropriate age applies for the Child Bonus and knows she has three children, but four appear, and that fourth child is the one they told her had died, whose body was never returned, whom she never named, nor registered in civil records, and who, after 60 years, turns out to be alive—it’s a tremendous pain,» she explained to the mentioned media outlet.

Simultaneously, they have recorded cases of some children residing abroad with dual identities who discover that there was never a legal adoption in Chile.

«They seek their families only to find out that they were never legally adopted—they were taken, that there’s a mother in pain, and that everything they were told their whole lives is a lie—this is truly strong and painful,» recounted the leader, warning of the high suicide rates linked to these processes.

«How Much Does a Child Cost?»

The Undersecretariat of Human Rights, led by Pablo Mira, justified the cancellation as part of a restructuring, claiming that there were no legal requirements supporting administrative investigations. However, Rodríguez directly questioned those behind the decision: «To those who made this decision, I ask, how much does a child cost?».

The leader stressed that the urgency in restoring UBAFI is based on three fundamental demands: the implementation of an accessible genetic fingerprint bank without the need to initiate legal proceedings, legal support, and specialized psychological assistance for the victims.

.«This is critically important as our mothers are passing away», she emphasized, highlighting that time is running out for those still seeking answers. The organization is currently in talks with parliamentarians to address the closure of the unit, while awaiting the Norwegian report to prompt new international demands that will pressure the Chilean state to fulfill its obligation of redress.

La entrada Victims of Illegal Adoptions Demand Reinstatement of Search Unit Closed by Kast Government se publicó primero en El Ciudadano.