As a signatory to the UN General Assembly, Switzerland is obliged to, “promote respect for these rights and freedoms by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance”.
Extracts from Doudou Diène’s Report
The special rapporteur on racism notes that the Swiss authorities … have recognised the existence of problems linked to racism and xenophobia, but believe these problems … are only a "second-class phenomenon".
He remarks that this assessment varies depending on the department and how high up the hierarchy the interviewee is: those nearer social reality [i.e. lower down the hierarchy] recognise more openly the manifestations of racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia. However this recognition becomes more diffuse as one goes higher up the hierarchy.
The members of foreign communities and national minorities who spoke to Diène explained, often with great emotion, how they experienced on a daily basis racism, discrimination, a xenophobic atmosphere, a feeling of loneliness within the population and fear of certain institutions, notably the police.
Egalitarian ideal postulates that all human beings have the same rights, independently of their race, sex and confession. This ideal is far from being realised. It is even in crisis, as the riots of November 2005 proved. Nevertheless it seems to be a better guiding light than the questionable worship of diversity. Against the right to difference, it is necessary to ceaselessly reaffirm the right to resemblance. What unites us is stronger than what divides us.
Letter to Swiss President Couchepin and Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey
We urge you to withdraw your government’s nomination of Jean Ziegler to the UN Human Rights Council Advisory Committee, the election for which is scheduled on March 26, 2008.
If elected, Mr. Ziegler would occupy one of the only three seats allotted to Western countries. The official criteria for the position are expertise in human rights, high moral standing, independence and impartiality. An analysis of Mr. Ziegler’s record raises serious questions as to his satisfaction of these requirements. Concerns include ( ... )
Are human rights empty promises?
Switzerland has ratified all of the main agreements on the protection of human rights.
Under the United Nations umbrella, the bodies responsible for the protection and development of human rights are the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the new Human Rights Council, both of which are based in Geneva.
However, official Swiss policy towards the protection of human rights has been criticised by non-governmental organisations.
In a report addressed to the UN in February, a coalition of 30 Swiss NGOs said there was a lack of institutional mechanisms in Switzerland to ensure the effective implementation of human rights conventions.
The coalition also accused Switzerland of dragging its feet in setting up a UN national action plan on the human rights conventions.
The foreign ministry responded by saying it was looking into the necessity and benefits of the idea as well as possible models.
In May, the Human Rights Council is due to examine the government’s report on conditions in Switzerland.
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