Important update:
Information on cross-border visitation rights
On April 16, the State Secretariat for Migration SEM issued a more precise directive.
This explicitly allows entry into Switzerland for the purpose of exercising visitation rights. Here are the instructions
Updated information on the website of the
umbrella organization for shared parenthood GeCoBi
It is clear that visiting contacts are still possible and permitted during this time.
This has now been clearly confirmed both in Switzerland and in the surrounding countries. As long as there is no illness or infection, contacts should remain possible within the framework of the visitation rights. Corona alone is not a reason for refusing contact. Of course, we also appeal to parents to be sensible and think carefully about whether contact poses a health risk or not. Nevertheless, it must be clear that these contacts are a very valuable and important asset - they are therefore absolutely worth protecting.
Accompanied visiting rights
A major difficulty is that all visiting meetings and all accompanied offers are currently not available. Parents who see their children in such conditions are currently experiencing great difficulties.
Binational families
Unfortunately, things are currently looking bleak for binational families too. Crossing borders to exercise the right of contact is obviously not possible, neither from Switzerland nor into Switzerland. Reference is made to the overriding interest.
Demands
We call on the authorities to develop cross-border proposals on how such contact can continue to be made possible.
It is also important that, especially at this time, particular attention is paid to the potential danger of alienation. If contact between child and parent is interrupted, conscious or unconscious alienation can take effect very quickly. Here too, the authorities are asked to be particularly careful.
Possible measures/ideas
- Could a place be set up near the border where parents and children could meet?
Information on visitation rights within Switzerland
Continuously updated information from the Federal Office of Public Health BAG (link no longer exists)
Position paper from KOKES (Conference for Child and Adult Protection)
Article in the Schweizer Illustrierte
Current information on visiting contacts
Germany (Source: Fathers' departure for children)
Austria (Source: Federal Ministry for Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection) (Link no longer exists)
Scientific texts
France: Confinement: que faire pour les enfants?