A Friborg woman kidnaps her children, appeals but the court rejects

In 2023, 80 cases of child abduction were recorded in Switzerland, a figure which is expected to increase further depending on the trends observed for 2024. The Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) is currently handling around a hundred cases, the majority involving a move to another European country, often by the mother. These situations are governed by the Hague Convention, which aims to ensure the rapid return of children to their country of origin. As a reminder, in Switzerland, since 2014, the principle of joint parental authority has been in force: this means that, married or not, parents must make decisions concerning their child together, including when this involves travel to the ‘stranger.