The increase in bi-national unions is one cause, according to Le Matin Dimanche, citing data from the Federal Office of Justice (FOJ).
In 2011, 35 requests for the return of children were sent by Switzerland to states that are co-signatories of the Hague ConventionExternal link. Ten years later, 68 requests had been made.
When parents come from different countries, “in cases of family conflicts and divorces, it often happens that people want to return to their country of origin and take their children with them,” confirms Ingrid Ryser, spokesperson for the FOJ.
In 75% of the cases, it is the mothers who abduct their children. They are also far more likely to refuse the co-parent’s visitation rights – in 85% of cases.
The gender issue is also significant in the case of child repatriation. The odds of returning the child back to Switzerland depends on the culture of the country, i.e., whether it is more favourable to the mother or the father.
Popular Stories
More
Science
Switzerland now has a Professor of Gender Medicine. She’s here to stay.
What do you think Switzerland’s Alain Berset can bring to the Council of Europe?
The former interior minister is to become the first Swiss Secretary General of the Council of Europe – which issues should his five-year term focus on?
Swiss air traffic control upgrade slows tempo for safety reasons
This content was published on
The upgrade of Switzerland’s air traffic control system will take longer than anticipated following a series of malfunctions.
Switzerland remains ‘world’s most innovative country’
This content was published on
Switzerland remains the world's most innovative country, still ahead of Sweden and the US on the WIPO Global Innovation Index.
Two boys kidnapped in Switzerland are found in France
This content was published on
Two seven-year-old boys kidnapped in western Switzerland on Friday have been found in southwest France, Swiss police said on Saturday.
This content was published on
Each year, Swiss authorities handle up to 200 cases of international child abduction, where children are caught in a tug-of-love wrangle between separated parents, usually of different nationalities. In 2008, 73 per cent of the time it was the mother who carried out the abduction. On Wednesday, a new Swiss law concerning the international abduction…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.