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Deadly terrorist attacks in France, Germany and Belgium have led Swiss authorities to implement a number of measures and create legal packages to...

In Switzerland, youths between 15 and 18 years of age can be detained under the provisions of the law on foreign nationals. This is specified in the...

Since the summer of 2016, the canton of Zurich has been tougher on rejected asylum seekers receiving emergency aid. It has issued numerous restriction...

Prisoners in Switzerland currently have no access to free confidential legal advice from independent specialists. The only way to get counselling is...

Migratory pressure challenges Switzerland as it does many other European countries. For a long time, legislative measures have been trying to enforce...

Between 13 and 24 April 2015, the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT)  visited various detention facilities...

For many years, severe and continued overcrowding has been the norm in the prison of Champ-Dollon in Geneva. On 21 March 2016, the Federal Supreme...

Even before the terrorist attacks in Paris on 13 November 2015, the Swiss Confederation assessed the likelihood of such an attack taking place as...

The Committee against Torture has proposed the inclusion of an explicit ban on torture and on inhuman and degrading treatment in Switzerland’s...

The Canadian national Riahd Benaissa was kept in custody in the regional prison of Bern for over 2 years. Now, the former Vice President of a Canadian...

The asylum seekers living temporarily in barracks in Bremgarten in the Canton of Aargau are not allowed to move around freely. The new facility is...

The National Commission for the Prevention of Torture (NCPT) has published its first findings which relate to the visits of Commission members to...

The close relationship between persons in custody and the authorities can give rise to an increased risk for the violation of human rights. The...

As was to be expected, the UN Commission Against Torture has critisised Switzerland because of violent measures during forced repatriation,...

On 18 December 2007 the Federal Councils voted with 128 to 59 in favour of the people's initiative on «life sentences for highly dangerous...

Most of the young offenders arrested in Switzerland are not treated differently than adults. This is what shows a study by the Federal Office of...

In a report presented on 19 April 2007, a group of experts criticised the use of excessive police force, insufficient conditions of detention and...

In the cantons of Geneva and Vaud policemen have repeatedly applied excessive force. In addition, conditions in the Geneva prison Champ-Dollon should...

The association Carrefour Prison published in December 2008 a guide in French addressed to the families of detainees held in prisons standing on the...

How should the justice system deal with prisoners who want to win their freedom by means of a hunger strike? Some years ago, the Bernard Rappaz case...