Alert Bangladesh: Prominent defenders receive two-year prison sentences
Podcast
Donate
Omct individual regions map europe and central asia 01 01
CAT status Status under the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment State Party since 2 December, 1986. State Party to the Optional Protocol to the Convention (OPCAT) since 24 September, 2009
Reviewed 2015 Read review

Switzerland

At a glance

Switzerland has been a State party to the Convention against Torture from the very beginning and has mostly succeeded to implement effective measures and policies to fight all forms of torture on its territory. However, there are still some shortcomings in the implementation of human rights standards, mostly related to immigration and asylum cases. There are alleged cases of excessive use of force and of racist behaviour by the police and immigration services that are not systematically reported to the authorities, even when there is medical evidence of injury. The European Court of Human Rights noted, in the 2013 case of Dembele v. Switzerland, the lack of prompt and effective investigations in such situations. There are also reports showing that undocumented migrants, in particular when subject to a Dublin decision, are systematically placed in detention in some cantons and that there are no persons of confidence or legal advisers present at hearings for unaccompanied minors during the asylum procedure.

Related resources

Our Network Members Working in this Area

Africa Middle East & North Africa Asia & the Pacific Europe & Central Asia Americas

Europe & Central Asia

Sign up now

Subscribe to our latest news & alerts