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Many of the couples who adopted a child from another country had previously sought to adopt a child in Switzerland. The Swiss adoption centres were often unable to meet their wishes.
In Switzerland like in other European countries, the number of children given up for adoption fell from the 1970s onwards. To avoid long waiting lists, some couples were willing to consider intercountry adoption.
Some of the adoption agencies recognised the particular challenges faced by parents adopting a child from a country in the global South. The association Adoption International organised conferences to share insights into such psychological and educational challenges[FN1 StABE BB 03.4.686, letter from Adoption International to the Bern cantonal youth welfare office, 3.4.1984.] However, the adoption agency also said it doubted the efficacy of such efforts: "It is probably extremely difficult to work prophylactically to prepare the future adoptive parents for their great responsbility. Wishful thinking usually covers up the possible warning signs."[FN2 StABE BB 03.4.686, 1984 annual report of Adoption International.]
Based on 13 interviews with parents, the study of adoptions of children from India in the cantons of Zurich and Thurgau shows that prospective parents were mostly ill-prepared to deal with the consequences of such an adoption. While in India and Switzerland laws and regulations have been put in place to sever the ties between birth parents and their children, little has been done to help foster and adoptive parents integrate the children into their new families.[FN3 Rita Kesselring, "Intercountry Adoptions. De-kinning, Kinning and Re-kinning", in: Andrea Abraham, Sabine Bitter, Rita Kesselring (ed.), Mother Unknown. Adoption of Children from India in the Swiss Cantons of Zurich and Thurgau, 1973–2002, Zurich 2024, p. 279–290.]
The couples interviewed spoke of an emotional burden that sometimes continues to this day. They found that Swiss educational and healthcare providers were ill-equipped to address the backgrounds and needs of their children. Many adoptees have faced persistent psychological issues and ill health.[FN4 Andrea Abraham, Sabine Bitter, Nadine Gautschi, Sarah Ineichen, Rita Kesselring, "Adoption as a Pivotal Experience with Health Implications. A Conversation," in: Andrea Abraham, Sabine Bitter, Rita Kesselring (ed.), Mother Unknown. Adoption of Children from India in the Swiss Cantons of Zurich and Thurgau, 1973–2002, Zurich 2024, p. 258–261.]
