Swiss govt plans to end international adoption by 2026

Switzerland on Wednesday said that it will end international adoptions by 2026 over concerns of malpractices in the procedure.

The country’s government employed an independent group of experts who concluded that  “even well-crafted adoption laws cannot prevent abuse and that a ban is the best way to adequately protect all those affected, particularly children.”

It also noted that the number of such adoptions has recently fallen sharply, from several hundred to about 30 per year. It said that it would explore possible exceptions under the legislative process, in particular for intrafamily adoptions, in which children are adopted by a step-parent or relative.

Why is the govt planning to ban international adoptions?

The group or the Federal Council said in a report that any effort made by the government to improve transparency and the procedure of the process of adoption has so far been proven futile.

The report concludes that even with a revised and well-crafted adoption law, as well as the allocation of significant resources, it remains uncertain whether abuse can be entirely prevented.

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The Swiss government further said, “The expert group highlights that the current legal basis is inadequate, particularly in the case of irregular adoptions. The Federal Council has therefore tasked the Federal Department of Justice and Police to examine a revision of the law in connection with the search for origins. The recommendations of the Conference of Cantonal Justice and Police Directors working group and the FOJ are to be taken into account in this process.”

With inputs from agencies