Six fields of action Confederation, cantons and communes draw up new asylum strategy
The federal government, the cantons and the Swiss cities and municipalities are working on a new asylum strategy. An asylum committee set up for this purpose has now defined six fields of action.
No time? blue News summarizes for you
- The asylum committee is drawing up a new asylum strategy for the federal government, cantons and cities.
- Newly formed working groups are to draw up concrete proposals for improvements in various areas of the asylum system.
- Politicians have defined six fields of action and want to offer solutions by mid-2025.
As the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) announced today, these include communication in the area of asylum, the return of refugees to their countries of origin and improving the resilience of the Swiss asylum system.
According to the press release, the restructuring of the asylum system has basically proved successful since the revised Asylum Act came into force on March 1, 2019. However, the asylum strategy needs to be reviewed in light of the persistently high number of asylum applications and adjusted if necessary.
The Asylum Committee is chaired by Christine Schraner Burgener, State Secretary for Migration, and Christoph Amstad, Vice President of the Conference of Cantonal Directors of Social Affairs (SODK). Amstad is head of the Department of Security and Social Affairs in the canton of Obwalden.
Federal Councillor Beat Jans, the SODK and the Conference of Justice and Police Directors (KKJPD) commissioned the Asylum Committee in mid-June to draw up the new asylum strategy.
Working groups to draw up proposals
At its first meeting yesterday (Thursday), the Asylum Committee also set up the first working groups to make concrete proposals for improvement. In addition to the three already mentioned, the six areas of action include the asylum procedure in Switzerland itself and the promotion of social acceptance, security and integration in the area of asylum.
Another field of action is "European migration policy". The effects of the European migration and asylum pact on Switzerland are to be analyzed in this area and the necessary legal adjustments initiated.
The new asylum strategy will also be based on the premise that swift and fair asylum procedures are carried out in accordance with the Geneva Convention on Refugees and that those seeking protection are housed and cared for in a humane manner, according to the press release.
"Municipal level involved"
People who are not entitled to Swiss protection should be deported quickly and consistently. According to the press release, the Swiss authorities want to communicate successes and challenges in the area of asylum and the integration of refugees regularly and transparently in future.
The new Swiss asylum strategy is to be adopted in mid-2025 as part of the third national asylum conference. Institutions such as the Federal Commission on Migration (FCM), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and non-governmental organizations will also be involved in the working groups.
When asked today, Gaby Szöllösy, Secretary General of the SODK, said that the municipal level was present at the constitution of the Asylum Committee on Thursday. The municipal representatives are permanent members of the committee.
The SODK also includes the municipal level on the board. A representative from the Association of Towns and Municipalities is also a member.
