Human Rights Commissioner examines Switzerland

Thomas Hammarberg, Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner, will visit Switzerland from 20 to 23 February. The main topic of his visit is the fight against discrimination. He will review Switzerland's policy and practice in this area, with the main focus on racism and xenophobia.

Talks will be held in Bern with the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Didier Burkhalter, Justice and Police Minister Simonetta Sommaruga and the directors of the Federal Office for Migration, the Federal Office of Justice and the Federal Office of Police. Mr Hammarberg will also meet members of the Swiss delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and representatives of various parliamentary commissions. Talks with civil society are planned for the beginning of the visit. In Zürich Mr Hammarberg will talk to ombudspersons and to representatives of the Foreigners' Council.

The Human Rights Commissioner is responsible for raising public awareness on human rights questions in the 47 member states of the Council of Europe and for advising European governments on how to improve national human rights protection. In this context the Council of Europe holds human rights reviews in all member states and on this basis produces reports on the human rights situation.

Thomas Hammarberg from Sweden succeeded Gil Robles, the first human rights commissioner of the Council of Europe, in 2006. Robles produced a report on the human rights situation in Switzerland in 2004. At the end of March, Nils Muiznieks from Latvia will succeed Mr Hammarberg. The position of Human Rights Commissioner was created in 1999.

Further information: 

FDFA Information
Tel. +41 31 322 31 53 

Stefano Montanari, Head of Communication
Office of the Human Rights Commissioner, Council of Europe
Tel. +33 3 88 41 35 38
Mobile : +33 6 61 14 70 37

Further information:

Human rights

Address for enquiries:

Information FDFA
Bundeshaus West
CH-3003 Bern
Tel.: +41 58 462 31 53
Fax: +41 58 464 90 47
E-Mail: info@eda.admin.ch

Publisher:

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
Federal Departement of Justice and Police