Update: 27.07.2016
The field is clear for a national human rights institution
NGO Platform Human Rights press release of 29 June 2016
The NGO Platform Human Rights welcomes the Federal Council’s decision to make way for a national human rights institution in Switzerland. Swiss NGOs have been working towards this goal for a long time.
The more than 80 NGOs united in the NGO Platform Human Rights thanked the Federal Council for its decision to create a national human rights institution with legally guaranteed independence.
Although the NGO Platform Human Rights considers the CHF 1 million budget awarded by the Federal Council to be too small, it is thrilled that after 15 years of waiting Switzerland has decided to create a legally binding independent human rights institution.
The political process to reach this goal, however, is not without risks. The final decision will be made by parliament. The NGO Platform Human Rights is committed to helping set up the institution and providing its expertise to achieve this goal.
Documentation
- Federal Council decides to establish a national human rights institution for Switzerland
Press release by the Federal Council, 29 June 2016 - Das SKMR begrüsst den Bundesratsentscheid zur Errichtung einer nationalen Menschenrechtsinstitution
Press release by the Swiss Centre of Expertise in Human Rights, 29 June 2016 (in German) - Amnesty begrüsst die Schaffung einer unabhängigen nationalen Menschenrechtsinstitution
Press release by Amnesty International, 29 June 2016
Further information
There is a short brochure explaining what the NGO Platform Human Rights expects from an independent human rights institution:
- Argumentarium: 10 gute Gründe für eine nationale Menschenrechtsinstitution
Article on humanrights.ch, 9 March 2015 (in German)
