Switzerland to set up independent police complaints commission
The ceiling of a Geneva conference room, decorated by Spanish artist Miquel Barceló, which is home to the United Nations Human Rights Council
Keystone/Salvatore Di Nolfi
Switzerland has agreed to establish an independent complaints mechanism for victims of police brutality. This is one of 160 recommendations it has approved following last year's peer review of its human rights record at the United Nations in Geneva.
This content was published on
2 minutes
SDA-ATS/sb
العربية
ar
سويسرا تتجه لإنشاء لجنة مستقلة لتلقي الشكاوى المتعلقة بتجاوزات الشرطة
Switzerland has also agreed to support the creation of a mechanism for collaboration between authorities and civil society to implement UPR recommendations. A measure long desired by a Platform of 80 NGOs.
The Swiss authorities meanwhile rejected 90 other recommendations by states concerning its rights record.
A platform of Swiss NGOExternal links described Switzerland’s final report as “mixed” overall. The Swiss branch of Amnesty International welcomed commitment to create a truly independent national human rights institution in accordance with the Paris Principles (which set the framework for such an institution). But the NGO criticized Switzerland’s hesitancy to take on board changes to ensure popular initiatives are compatible with international law.
During Switzerland’s presentation to the UN rights council last year several states urged greater efforts to fight racism, to stop violence against women and to improve the integration of migrants. Bern has agreed to do more to combat discrimination.
The Swiss authorities also say they plan to launch independent investigations into alleged cases of excessive use of force during the explusion of illegal immigrants. They have also acknowledged the need for tougher penalties against human trafficking.
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
This content was published on
The Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), Swissinfo's parent company, must restructure due to financial pressures and to stay competitive in the fast-moving media environment.
This content was published on
There has been a sharp decline in the consumption of single-use disposable plastic bags and reusable plastic bags in the Swiss retail sector.
This content was published on
A biometric Swiss identity card (ID) is expected to be available in Switzerland by the end of 2026. The Federal Office of Police and its federal and cantonal partners are working on a new ID card that features a chip.
Heatwave reduces output at Swiss nuclear power plant by 50%
This content was published on
The ongoing heatwave has forced the Beznau nuclear power plant, which relies on water from the River Aare, to halve its output.
Swiss continue to enjoy high social mobility, study shows
This content was published on
Opportunities for upward social mobility have remained intact in Switzerland since the 1980s. Social mobility is exceptionally high by international comparison, a study shows.
Swiss government affected by cyberattack on health foundation
This content was published on
Switzerland says a ransomware attack on the non-profit health foundation Radix that involved data being stolen and encrypted had also affected the federal administration.
Federal Council agrees to investigation into alleged Swiss-Russian spying affair
This content was published on
The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland can open spying investigations into the Swiss Federal Intelligence Service (FIS).
Appeal launched against Starlink satellite antennae project planned in Swiss village
This content was published on
A group of Swiss citizens has filed an appeal against plans to install 40 Starlink satellite antennae in the mountain village of Leuk in southern Switzerland.
UBS launches buyback scheme for up to $2 billion in shares
This content was published on
UBS is starting a share buyback programme for up to $2 billion (CHF1.6 billion) in shares, in line with a plan approved at its annual general meeting (AGM) in April, the Swiss bank said on Monday.
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
UN expert: Switzerland must do more to combat ‘dirty money’
This content was published on
A UN expert has called for tougher sanctions and other measures to keep so-called ‘dirty money’ from entering Swiss financial markets.
Swiss urge states to reject ‘law of the strongest’
This content was published on
Ignazio Cassis said states must reject a world where the “law of the strongest” prevails during his speech at the UN Human Rights Council.
Switzerland called on to improve treatment of asylum seekers
This content was published on
The forced separation of asylum-seeker families in Switzerland came under scrutiny in Amnesty International’s annual report, released on Thursday.
Switzerland urged to improve protection of vulnerable migrants
This content was published on
In a report on Switzerland, published on TuesdayExternal link, Nils Muižnieks calls on the Swiss authorities to end its “traumatising” practice of detaining young migrant children in airport transit zones with or without their parents for up to 60 days while they await a decision on their asylum status. “They usually wouldn’t detain a child…
This content was published on
Switzerland should take steps to ensure that popular initiatives do not contravene international law, the UN Human Rights Committee said today.
This content was published on
Deep-rooted patriarchal attitudes and stereotypes are impeding gender equality in Switzerland, a United Nations committee has declared.
This content was published on
The final report of Switzerland’s second Universal Periodic Review (UPR) – a human rights peer review exercise carried out every four years – was adopted by the 47-member Geneva-based council on Thursday. Switzerland has agreed to implement 99 out of 140 recommendations put forward by 69 states last October. The adoption of the report follows…
This content was published on
Swiss representatives said on Wednesday that another 86 proposals made during its second Universal Periodic Review (UPR) earlier in the week would receive a response at the next session of the Geneva-based council in March next year. The Swiss rejected suggestions to ratify the UN convention on migrant worker rights or to draft legislation banning…
This content was published on
On Monday Switzerland defended its national human rights record for the second time before the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council in a peer review process known as the Universal Periodic Review (UPR); its last appearance was in 2008. Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter, head of the Swiss delegation, described the three-and-a-half-hour review consisting of oral…
This content was published on
Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey and a 20-strong Swiss delegation were grilled by some 40 states on Thursday about issues ranging from racism, migrant and women’s rights, naturalisations to the lack of a national human rights institution. Switzerland is part of the second group of 16 countries, including Pakistan, France and Japan, to be scrutinized over…
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.