In the quiet corridors of Swiss family courts, a complex drama unfolds—one where fathers often find themselves battling not just for their rights, but for their voices to be heard. A narrative is emerging from the heart of these legal battles, suggesting a systemic bias that tilts the scales of justice against men, particularly in the context of family disputes.

The Swiss legal system, renowned for its precision and neutrality, is facing scrutiny over claims that gender bias is influencing the outcomes of family law proceedings. Critics argue that a majority of judges, social workers, clinical psychologists, and prosecutors involved in these cases are women, some of whom may carry personal biases stemming from negative experiences with men. This, they claim, could inadvertently affect the impartiality required for fair judgment.

In family disputes, the stakes are high, and the impact of the decisions made within the walls of family courts can be profound and lasting. Fathers fighting for custody or fair visitation rights often feel marginalized by a system that they perceive as predisposed to favor mothers. The Swiss Civil Code (Zivilgesetzbuch – ZGB) outlines the principle of investigation (Untersuchungsgrundsatz), which mandates the court to actively ascertain the facts and gather evidence beyond what the parties present. However, there is a growing concern that this principle is not being applied rigorously, particularly in temporary orders where the urgency of decisions often bypasses thorough investigation.

Allegations have surfaced that within these legal proceedings, the testimony of a mother can carry disproportionate weight. A tearful account in front of a social worker, for instance, may be enough to sway the outcome. Critics argue that this is indicative of a broader issue where the testimony of women is given undue credence over that of men, who are often not seen as victims in the eyes of the court.

The repercussions of such a system are far-reaching. Fathers find themselves not only fighting against their estranged partners but also against a constellation of legal players, including police, social services, lawyers, and tribunals, who are perceived to be part of a machinery that often leaves them disenfranchised. The suffering of these fathers goes beyond the loss of custody or limited visitation rights; it extends to the emotional toll of feeling unjustly treated by the very institutions that are meant to uphold fairness and justice.

To underscore this point, a Facebook post from a Slovenian legal page will be embedded here, illustrating a similar experience within the Slovenian justice system. This shared experience across borders highlights the universal challenges fathers face in their quest for equitable treatment in family law disputes.

And because all (or in the vast majority) are women (judges, social workers, clinical psychologists, prosecutors) involved with a possible bad experience with a man (most often undefined from a psychological point of view), the probability of resolving such a dispute in the favor of a man is negligently small. And this, although ZNP-1 in its 7. the article determines the legal norm of the investigation principle, whereby it considers that in unfair proceedings, including family proceedings, the court finds facts that the participants did not specify and executes evidence that the participants didn’t suggest.
Nevertheless, the court almost never deals with investigative actions in temporary orders. It is enough to check pre-criminal procedures, possibly some other offenses, checking the payments of alimony, obtaining a (favored) opinion of the center for social work (it is enough for a woman to shed a tear at the first contact with a social worker, because when the mother is in contact with a social work worker, the instructions also state that the woman or. t. and. The victim always believes that the victim is not a man) and the solution is in the palm of his hand. [… ]

The Swiss justice system, with its storied history of upholding democratic values, is now at a crossroads. The question that looms large is whether it can introspect and reform from within to ensure that fathers receive the same empathy, consideration, and fair treatment that is the hallmark of a truly equitable legal system.

As Switzerland grapples with these complex issues, the call for a more balanced approach to family law is growing louder. It is a call for a system where fathers are not prejudged by their gender but are seen as equal partners in parenting, deserving of the same rights and protections as mothers. Only then can the Swiss justice system live up to its reputation as a beacon of fairness and equality?