Switzerland boosts care for solo minors seeking asylum
Keystone / Mohammed Badra
Switzerland’s federal asylum centres will in 2020 introduce staff specialising in social and educational matters to assist unaccompanied minor asylum seekers.
This is in line with recommendations from a Zurich University evaluation of a pilot project launched in July 2017 and tested in the federal asylum centres in the cities of Basel and Zurich.
The new strategy will be implemented from 1 January 2020 in all six regions tasked with conducting asylum procedures.
An external specialist will initially be responsible for drawing up a comprehensive protection strategy and an emergency plan for the young asylum-seeker.
More socio-educational specialists are being recruited for all the centres to support care staff.
In addition, freelance interpreters will be present at all relevant meetings, according to a statement from SEM issued on Tuesday.
Several measures are planned to improve cooperation between SEM and legal representatives, care providers and authorities for the protection of minors and adults. This also applies to the transfer of the minors to custody at the cantonal level.
Swiss law defines an unaccompanied minor as a young migrant who is under the age of 18 and is not accompanied by an adult who takes care of him or her.
Swiss price watchdog slams excessive prices for generic medicines
This content was published on
The cheapest generic medicines available in Switzerland are more than twice as expensive as in other countries, according to a study by the Swiss price watchdog.
Nature should not figure in net zero calculations: academic study
This content was published on
The natural removal of CO2 from the atmosphere by forests or oceans should not be included in the net-zero balance of climate protection measures, argue researchers.
This content was published on
None of the 15 major Swiss retail banks is meeting international climate and biodiversity targets, according to a ranking by WWF Switzerland.
This content was published on
Nestlé's new CEO Laurent Freixe, has presented plans for the future of the world's largest food company, after his first few weeks in office.
Swiss foreign minister calls on Moscow to end Ukraine war
This content was published on
It's high time Moscow ended its war against Ukraine, Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis tells the UN Security Council.
This content was published on
The only alternative to the UN Palestinian agency’s work in Gaza is to allow Israel to run services there, Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, told reporters in Geneva on Monday.
Study reveals food culture differences between Switzerland and neighbours
This content was published on
Three-quarters of Swiss people consider eating to be a pleasurable, social activity, a new survey reveals. Healthy eating, however, plays a much less important role, it found.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Switzerland pledges CHF125 million to UN refugee agency
This content was published on
The Swiss Federal Council has pledged CHF125 million ($126 million) to the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) for the 2019–2022 period.
In Zurich, Syrians mobilise in bid to boost mental health
This content was published on
The men and women gathered in a spartan room are a moving reminder of the vitality and diversity of Syrian society when the country was blooming.
Eritreans stuck in Switzerland lose faith in a better future
This content was published on
Thousands of failed asylum seekers cannot be sent back and refuse to return home voluntarily. Young Eritreans share their stories.
This content was published on
Speaking to students at a Bern secondary school, refugees describe the brutal torture they were subjected to before fleeing Syria.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.