Township Council wants to investigate illegal adoptions in Sri Lanka

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Canton of Zurich investigates illegal adoptions in Sri Lanka

The canton of Zurich will historically prosecute illegal adoptions from Sri Lanka since the 1970s. The cantonal council on Monday approved a candidacy of the SP, GLP, Greens, Center and EPP for government with 92 votes to 67.

Many adoptions from the 1970s were illegal, especially those from Sri Lanka. The canton of Zürich will now handle complaints historically, as many of these children were taken in by parents in the canton of Zürich.

Theme image: Sandra Ardizzone / LUW

The board of directors was really ready to accept the initiative without debate, especially since a study had already been decided on and commissioned. Therefore, the Director of Justice, Jacqueline Fehr (SP), stressed that the answer to the postulate would probably be very brief.

The initiative was more of a symbolic act, a demonstration of support for the people concerned. The UDC did not want to establish it. This is a national problem, the SVP spokesman said. No need for a patchwork comforter in which each canton conducts its own research.

The cantons were responsible for the execution

However, for a majority in parliament, Zurich would escape responsibility. “The implementation of the adoption system depended on the cantons,” said Sibylle Marti (SP, Zurich). In addition, a quarter of the children arriving in Switzerland were placed with parents from Zurich.

As many as 11,000 Sri Lankan children were placed with relatives in various European countries as part of organized international trade, particularly in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.

Other cantons, such as St. Gallen, have also launched their own research projects. The Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) has already investigated the complaints, but did not focus specifically on the cantons.

A study reveals the scale of the adoption scandal

The results of the ZHAW study show that from the 1970s to the 1990s, Swiss authorities systematically violated guidelines for international adoptions.

The adoptees were mostly babies or toddlers only a few weeks old; they came from the so-called baby farms in Sri Lanka, where white men were also "used" to procreate as light-skinned children as possible. Swiss parents paid between 5,000 and 15,000 Swiss francs per child. In return, Sri Lankan mothers received a few dollars or simply a gift like a thermos.

In contrast, intermediaries in Sri Lanka, including lawyers, have made enormous fortunes through child trafficking, often more than ministers in their country. It also happened that women confined themselves to posing as the mothers of children given up for adoption. In addition, the documents were often falsified.

Hundreds of Swiss illegally adopted as children still do not know who their biological parents are. The Confederation and the cantons now want to help them with the “Back to basics” project in their search for origin. (na)

- Cantonal Council wants to investigate illegal adoptions Sri Lanka