Other support measures

Opportunities for victims and affected persons to share information and experiences

The Federal Office of Justice also organises and promotes the sharing of information and experiences among victims and others who were affected by compulsory social measures and placements. This is intended to help them better develop and utilise their personal resources.

This mandate is currently implemented within the framework of "storytelling bistros", which are organised and supported by the association "Austausch-Échange" and co-financed by the Federal Office of Justice.

Erzählbistro - Ein Begegnungsort für die Betroffenen fürsorgerischer Zwangsmassnahmen
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Tracing service

When compulsory social measures and placements were ordered and implemented, many of the people concerned were forcibly removed from their families and placed in homes or with foster or host families, or made to work in factories or on farms. Often children were separated from their siblings, some of whom have not been reunited to this day. Some children who were the subject of "compulsory adoption" (i.e. the forced removal of children from their parents and their release for adoption) are still trying to trace their biological mothers, and these mothers are still searching for their children. There are therefore still cases in which victims and other persons affected are trying to trace their family members.

Below you will find an overview of valuable information on tracing services that can support those affected in finding their relatives:

In the case of (forced) adoptions, special information and counselling centres are available in each canton to provide information on birth parents and their direct descendants or on adopted children: