Human rights in Switzerland
Encyclopedia
Human rights are comprehensively guaranteed in Switzerland
, one of Europe's
oldest democracies
. Together with other European states, Switzerland is often at or near the head in international civil liberties
and political rights
rankings.
As with many other Western states, Amnesty International
reports some cases of alleged abuse, mostly involving the use of excessive force
by the Swiss police
of some cantons
against foreigners. Amnesty's 2005 report says (of the Swiss police) that "[t]here were regular reports of ill-treatment, often accompanied by racist
abuse. Police accountability
mechanisms were unsatisfactory and such abuses were often committed with impunity
."
Switzerland is signatory to all relevant international human rights instruments
. It is also the depositary state of the Geneva Conventions
and the place where several human rights-related NGOs
were established or headquarters, including the Red Cross. The United Nations Human Rights Council
, of which Switzerland is a member and which it was instrumental in establishing, has its seat in Geneva
. Respect for human rights and the promotion of democracy is also one of the five official foreign policy goals of Switzerland.
Women were granted the right to vote
in the first Swiss cantons in 1959, at the federal level only in 1971 and, after resistance, in the last canton Appenzell Innerrhoden
in 1990 (despite Switzerland having ratified the European Convention on Human Rights
16 years earlier).
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, one of Europe's
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
oldest democracies
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
. Together with other European states, Switzerland is often at or near the head in international civil liberties
Civil liberties
Civil liberties are rights and freedoms that provide an individual specific rights such as the freedom from slavery and forced labour, freedom from torture and death, the right to liberty and security, right to a fair trial, the right to defend one's self, the right to own and bear arms, the right...
and political rights
Right
Rights are legal, social, or ethical principles of freedom or entitlement; that is, rights are the fundamental normative rules about what is allowed of people or owed to people, according to some legal system, social convention, or ethical theory...
rankings.
As with many other Western states, Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
reports some cases of alleged abuse, mostly involving the use of excessive force
Excessive Force
Excessive Force is a musical side project started in 1991 by Sascha Konietzko of KMFDM and Buzz McCoy of My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult.-History:...
by the Swiss police
Law enforcement in Switzerland
Law enforcement in Switzerland is mainly a responsibility of the 26 cantons of Switzerland, who each operate cantonal police agencies. Some cities also operate municipal police agencies as provided for by cantonal law. The federal government provides specialised services and is responsible for the...
of some cantons
Cantons of Switzerland
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...
against foreigners. Amnesty's 2005 report says (of the Swiss police) that "[t]here were regular reports of ill-treatment, often accompanied by racist
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
abuse. Police accountability
Police accountability
Police accountability involves holding both individual police officers, as well as law enforcement agencies responsible for effectively delivering basic services of crime control and maintaining order, while treating individuals fairly and within the bounds of law...
mechanisms were unsatisfactory and such abuses were often committed with impunity
Impunity
Impunity means "exemption from punishment or loss or escape from fines". In the international law of human rights, it refers to the failure to bring perpetrators of human rights violations to justice and, as such, itself constitutes a denial of the victims' right to justice and redress...
."
Switzerland is signatory to all relevant international human rights instruments
International human rights instruments
International human rights instruments are treaties and other international documents relevant to international human rights law and the protection of human rights in general...
. It is also the depositary state of the Geneva Conventions
Geneva Conventions
The Geneva Conventions comprise four treaties, and three additional protocols, that establish the standards of international law for the humanitarian treatment of the victims of war...
and the place where several human rights-related NGOs
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
were established or headquarters, including the Red Cross. The United Nations Human Rights Council
United Nations Human Rights Council
The United Nations Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations System. The UNHRC is the successor to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights , and is a subsidiary body of the United Nations General Assembly...
, of which Switzerland is a member and which it was instrumental in establishing, has its seat in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
. Respect for human rights and the promotion of democracy is also one of the five official foreign policy goals of Switzerland.
Women were granted the right to vote
Suffrage
Suffrage, political franchise, or simply the franchise, distinct from mere voting rights, is the civil right to vote gained through the democratic process...
in the first Swiss cantons in 1959, at the federal level only in 1971 and, after resistance, in the last canton Appenzell Innerrhoden
Appenzell Innerrhoden
Appenzell Innerrhoden is the smallest canton of Switzerland by population and the second smallest by area, Basel-City having less area.-Foundation:...
in 1990 (despite Switzerland having ratified the European Convention on Human Rights
European Convention on Human Rights
The Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms is an international treaty to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms in Europe. Drafted in 1950 by the then newly formed Council of Europe, the convention entered into force on 3 September 1953...
16 years earlier).
See also
- Fundamental Rights in the Swiss Federal ConstitutionTitle 2 of the Swiss Federal ConstitutionTitle 2 of the Swiss Federal Constitution of 18 April 1999, entitled "Fundamental Rights, Civil Rights and Social Goals", contains a comprehensive and directly enforceable bill of rights, as well as a set of social goals which the state authorities are to pay heed to...
External links
- humanrights.ch, a Swiss human rights NGO
Further literature
- Hernando de Soto, Francis Cheneval (2006): Realizing Property Rights. Swiss Human Rights Book Vol. 1. rüffer & rub: Zurich. ISBN 978-3-907625-25-5
- Carol Bellamy, Jean Zermatten (2007): Realizing the Rights of the Child. Swiss Human Rights Book Vol. 2. rüffer & rub: Zurich. ISBN 978-3-907625-34-7
- Andrew Clapham, Mary Robinson (2009): Realizing the Right to Health. Swiss Human Rights Book Vol. 3. rüffer & rub: Zurich. ISBN 978-3-907625-45-3