Shamed at Birth - Northern Ireland's hidden history
The 大象传媒鈥檚 Ireland Correspondent, Chris Page, shares the powerful and personal story of one woman fighting for justice for her brother 鈥� who died as a baby.
The last institution for unmarried mothers in Northern Ireland closed in 1990. From 1922 until that point, more than ten thousand women spent time in what were known as 鈥渕other-and-baby homes鈥� before and after they gave birth. The secretive institutions were run by religious orders, during a time when becoming pregnant outside of marriage often carried a great sense of shame. But women and their children have been speaking out to challenge the hypocrisy of decades past, which still has a deep effect on people today.
Now the devolved government in Belfast is setting up an inquiry into what happened. Survivors say there鈥檚 evidence of women being detained against their will, forced to work for no pay, and made to give up their babies for adoption. UN human rights experts have said there should be financial compensation for those who suffered. The 大象传媒鈥檚 Ireland Correspondent Chris Page has been covering the issues across the island for a number of years. For 5 Minutes On, he shares the powerful and personal story of a woman fighting for justice for her brother 鈥� who died as a baby.
Credit image - 大象传媒 News
