Switzerland: Human Rights

The Swiss Confederation is a constitutional republic with a federal structure. Legislative authority resides in a bicameral parliament (Federal Assembly), consisting of the 46-member Council of States and the 200-member National Council. Free and fair elections occurred at both the cantonal and federal levels in 2011. Parliament elects the executive leadership (the seven-member Federal Council) every four years. A coalition of five parties made up the Federal Council. There were 12 political parties represented in the federal government. Security forces reported to civilian authorities. Security forces committed some human rights abuses. The most significant problems included the occasional use of excessive force by security forces, particularly in connection with the arrests and deportations of asylum seekers and in the canton of Geneva. Authorities sometimes subjected asylum seekers to lengthy detention and mistreatment. Societal discrimination against Roma, members of other minorities, and immigrants also occurred. Other human rights problems included overcrowded prisons, instances of violence against women, forced marriages in some immigrant groups, hostility towards Muslims, anti-Semitic incidents, and trafficking in persons. The government took steps to prosecute and punish officials who committed abuses, whether in the security services or elsewhere in the government.