Speak Out: The Persecution of the Yenish People in Switzerland

The persecution of the Yenish people in Switzerland constitutes a crime against humanity. This was the conclusion of a legal opinion commissioned by the Federal Ministry of the Interior in February 2025. Between 1926 and 1973, more than 600 Yenish children were forcibly removed from their families by the "Children of the Road Aid" organization, ostensibly to rescue them from a life of hardship. "Children of the Road Aid" was an initiative of the Pro Juventud Foundation, implemented with the support of the authorities.

This groundbreaking legal opinion is the culmination of decades of struggle by victims, including Uschi Wasser. As a child, she was taken from her Yenish mother and raised in countless institutions, where she endured violence and humiliation. It wasn't until she was over 30 that Uschi learned Pro Juventud was responsible for her traumatic childhood and adolescence. When she reviewed her files, she was devastated. In her book,

"Speaking Out to Avoid Being Suffocated," the author uses her life story to highlight the systematic cruelty inflicted on families by the "Road Children" program and the lasting impact on those affected. At the same time, the book tells the story of a woman who tirelessly fights for rehabilitation and justice.