It is now clear that visits are still possible and permitted during this time.
This has been unequivocally confirmed in Switzerland and neighboring countries. Provided there is no illness or infection, visits should remain possible under the terms of visitation rights. Therefore, COVID-19 alone is not a reason to deny contact. Of course, we also appeal to parents' common sense to carefully consider whether or not a visit poses a health risk. Nevertheless, it must be clear that these visits are a very valuable and important asset – and therefore absolutely worthy of protection.
Supervised Visitation Rights:
A major difficulty is that all supervised visitation sessions and programs are currently unavailable. Parents who need to see their children under these conditions are therefore facing significant challenges.
Binational Families
: Unfortunately, the current situation also looks bleak for binational families. Crossing borders to exercise contact rights is apparently not possible, neither from Switzerland nor into Switzerland. The overriding public interest is cited as the reason.
It is also important that particular attention is paid to the potential danger of alienation, especially during this time. If contact between child and parent is interrupted, conscious or unconscious alienation can take effect very quickly. Here, too, the authorities are urged to be especially vigilant.
GeCoBi activities
Information on visitation rights within Switzerland.
Continuously updated information from the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH).
Position paper of the KOKES (Conference for Child and Adult Protection).
Article in the Swiss Illustrated
Current information on visitation rights
in Germany (Source: Fathers' Initiative for Children)
and Austria (Source: Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection)
Scientific texts
France: Confinement: que faire pour les enfants?