Racism incidents on the rise in Switzerland, especially in schools
A protest in support of the Black Lives Matter movement in Zurich in 2020.
Keystone / Ennio Leanza
Reports of racist incidents in Switzerland rose by almost a quarter in 2023, according to the annual report of the counselling centres published on Thursday. Of the 876 recorded cases, the majority involved xenophobia and anti-Black racism, primarily occurring within school settings.
The members of the network of advice centres for victims of racism received 168 more reports than in 2022, according to a press release by the Federal Commission against Racism (FCR) and humanrights, an NGO dedicated to defending human rights in Switzerland.
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Is racism a problem in Switzerland? A look at the latest numbers
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When it comes to racial discrimination, the situation in Switzerland is hardly comparable to that of the United States. But some issues persist.
A significant number of cases – just over 180 – were reported within the education sector, especially in schools. These incidents occurred not only in classrooms but also in school groups created by students on various social media platforms. The FCR and human rights advocates emphasise the need for strengthened prevention measures within the school environment.
Among the factors contributing to the increase in racism, the report highlights the escalation of conflict in the Middle East, the upcoming elections and voting campaigns.
Translated from French by DeepL/sp
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Racism and discrimination remain issues for many Swiss
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A majority of Swiss see racism as an important social issue, although the scale of the problem has remained relatively constant in the eyes of the population.
Why Switzerland should be doing more to fight racism
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The UN has pointed its finger at a lack of clear Swiss legislation to tackle racism as well as the lack of enough accessible recourse for victims.
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