ODIHR’s insights

For 2024, ODIHR received reports of 202 incidents that took place in Switzerland in the following bias motivation categories: racist and xenophobic, anti-LGBTI, anti-Christian, anti-Muslim, gender-based, anti-Semitic, and disability. Almost one third of incidents were reported in the anti-LGBTI category, while a significant number of racist and xenophobic, anti-Semitic, and both gender-based and anti-LGBTI incidents were reported. Several multiple bias incidents were reported in the categories of racist and xenophobic and anti-LGBTI, racist and xenophobic and anti-Muslim, anti-Muslim and gender-based, and racist and xenophobic and disability. 

ODIHR observes that anti-LGBTI incidents frequently involved physical assaults, threats, and harassment of same-sex couples and visibly queer persons in public spaces, often around LGBTI-Pride events. Many cases included repeated theft or vandalism of pride symbols, arson, and online threats. Gender-based and anti-LGBTI incidents disproportionately affected trans and non-binary people, who faced sexual and physical assaults and public threats. ODIHR further notes that anti-Christian incidents in Switzerland mainly targeted Jehovah’s Witnesses, including physical assaults, threats, repeated vandalism of Kingdom Halls, and an arson attempt against a church. Anti-Muslim incidents included physical assaults and harassment of visibly Muslim women and their children, disruptive behaviour at mosques, and the attempted murder of two 14-year-old girls. ODIHR also noted numerous anti-Semitic incidents, with synagogues, schools, and private homes vandalized with swastikas, Holocaust references, and slogans linked to the conflict in the Middle East. Finally, racist and xenophobic incidents disproportionately targeted people of African descent, including children, who faced repeated harassment, assaults, and threats in schools, workplaces, and public spaces, with several cases involving police as perpetrators. Victims of Arab, Asian, and Turkish origin were also targeted, alongside threats related to pro-migrant and pro-Palestinian expression.

It should be noted that ODIHR did not receive any reporting related to hate incidents targeting the Roma community and other religions or beliefs in Switzerland, and only a single incident of disability hate crime. This indicates potential gaps in the information reported here.

In addition, one reporting organization submitted 48 statistical incidents motivated by anti-Semitic bias, for which descriptions are not available in the tables below.