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The Rights of Parents – The Right to Direct Personal Contact

According to the UNCRC (cf. para 8, 9 and 18 UNCRC) every child has a right to enjoy direct personal contact with his/her relatives and with his/her parents in particular. This privilege of direct personal contact remains non-negotiable even in cases where the parents are on bad terms with each other.

This right can only be limited in the case when personal contact with one parent is detrimental to the child’s condition and/or positive development.

Our Activities:

  • we inform and advise persons concerned in Switzerland and abroad both about the rights of parents and the right of direct personal contact;
  • on behalf of a court or an Authority for the protection of children we thoroughly check into the living conditions of children living with only one parent, either in Switzerland or in another country. Based on the information gathered ISS will make recommendations to both the Authorities concerned and the parents. Such recommendations aim to grant the children access to personal contacts with the parent who has no custody over them;
  • by amicable settlement or transnational mediation we try to restore bonds that were severed between children and the parent without custody rights;
  • we undertake the steps necessary to bring about recognition of fatherhood, or to facilitate practical implication of the right for personal contacts by helping to gather the documents required to initiate pertinent procedures.