The Situation of the Yenish and Sinti in Switzerland: Literature Review with a Focus on the History of Discrimination Against the Nomadic Way of Life

Abstract

This literature review offers a concise overview of the current state of knowledge concerning the situation of the Yenish and Sinti in Switzerland. Based on a legal opinion by Diggelmann et al. (2024), on February 20, 2025, the Federal Council recognized the removal of children by the Pro Juventute foundation between 1926 and 1973 and the prevention of births within the communities of Swiss Yenish and Sinti as crimes against humanity under international law. The two self-organizations “Union des Associations et des Représentants des Nomades Suisses” (UARNS) and the “Radgenossenschaft der Landstrasse” had submitted requests to the federal government in 2021 and 2024, respectively, for the recognition of a (cultural) genocide. This prompted the government to commission the corresponding legal opinion. As part of the recognition of the crimes against humanity, the government reiterated its 2013 apology to the Yenish and Sinti, which had been issued to the
victims of the so-called “Coercive Social Measures and Placements”. The historical (persecution-) history of the Yenish and Sinti within the territory of present-day Switzerland will first be outlined. The current situation of the Yenish and Sinti will then be presented based on the available sources. Following this, the consequences of persecution will be discussed. Another section will address the role of academic research in relation to the Yenish and Sinti. The literature review ends with a conclusion.