Confederation and cantons to help adoptees find their roots
Published: Thursday, Nov 16th 2023, 12:10
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Adoptees should be supported in their search for their roots. This is the recommendation of a working group in collaboration with the Federal Office of Justice. From the 1970s to the 1990s, the federal government and cantons systematically turned a blind eye to hundreds of illegal adoptions from Sri Lanka.
The recommendations of the "Tracing of Origin" working group include better coordination between the cantons, consideration of the special features of illegal adoptions and the establishment of an international DNA database.
The working group consisted of representatives of the authorities, adopted persons and representatives of private organizations and tracing services. The Conference of Cantonal Justice and Police Directors (KKJPD) mandated the establishment of the "Search for Origin" group in March 2020.
A first recommendation concerns the legal basis for tracing the origins of adoptees at international level. These need to be adapted as they do not take into account the particularities of illegal adoptions, writes the working group.
In this context, it also proposes the creation of a legal basis that regulates the financial support provided by the Confederation and the cantons to the persons concerned.
The working group also emphasizes the need for better coordination of adoption issues at a political and technical level. There is currently no intercantonal authority that fulfills this role.
Employees of the responsible cantonal authorities are often not sufficiently trained in the subject. This gap needs to be closed through training.
The working group also recommends setting up an internationally secured DNA database and making the process of tracing origin free of charge for all those affected. Finally, the working group emphasizes the need for further research.
Independent monitoring required
In a statement, the Back to the Roots association regrets that support independent of the authorities is not part of the recommendations. Due to past failures, this situation is "unacceptable" for many adopted people. The association also calls for a contact point independent of the authorities for specific advice and support for all adopted persons from all countries of origin.
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