ECRI Report on Switzerland

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance  undertakes country monitoring in each Council of Europe member state. ECRI’s findings, along with recommendations as to how each country might deal with the problems identified, are published in country reports. These reports are drawn up after a contact visit to the country in question and a confidential dialogue with the national authorities. 
ECRI welcomes the considerable efforts made by the authorities to integrate migrants. Worthy of particular mention are the extensive language learning programmes and the new national programme for preventing and combating poverty which is addressed, amongst others, at migrants. ECRI is also satisfied with the efforts made in the health field and with the drawing up of a system of 68 indicators established by the Federal Statistics Office that make it possible to measure trends in the integration field. It encourages the authorities to carry this project through, in particular by devising indicators to measure the extent of racial discrimination. On the other hand, according to the 2011 MIPEX III integration policies index, Switzerland has lost ground and is now placed 23rd out of 31 countries. The weak points noted include family reunification, regulations governing long-term residence, naturalisation, the considerable variation in policies between cantons, and the worst protection against discrimination of all the countries studied.
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