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The Protection of Children

Every child must be granted a safe and secure environment to grow up in, an environment which will build up and support the child’s personality and self-confidence. The child has a right to develop a future commensurate with his/her capabilities (cf. UNCRC of 1989, paragraphs 3, 6, 8, 19, 20, 27, 31, 32, 34, and 36).

Many problems may specifically afflict children whose parents do not live in their country of origin or who live separated in two different countries. Great care must be given to choose the best protective surroundings for such a child.  This can be done by either placing him/her in a foster family, or by providing alternate adequately sheltered living conditions. To ensure that measures taken to protect the child’s well-being take all this into consideration, there must be a close cooperation across national borders between the parents on one side and institutions protecting the child’s interests on the other. The ISS network provides the communication channels needed and helps protecting childrens‘ rights on a worldwide basis.

On July 1st 2009, the 1996 Hague Convention on the International Protection of Children entered into effect in Switzerland. This convention offers a new legal basis and new mecanisms of cooperation which improve intervention in transborder child protection cases.

 

Our Activities:

In case ISS becomes aware of cruelty to children or of children being neglected:

  • ISS will ring the alarm with the Authorities in Switzerland or abroad so that steps for the children's protection can be immediately initiated 
  • ISS will bring to light the child’s or children’s situation within the natural/foster family or the institution where they live 
  • ISS will transfer pertinent reports from one country to the other in order to make sure that Authorities have adequate information on the child’s history and can act accordingly