Switzerland

Switzerland regularly reports hate crime data to ODIHR. Switzerland's Criminal Code contains no hate crime provision (see the link to related legislation, below) and hate crimes are addressed under anti-discrimination criminal provisions. The Federal Commission against Racism partners with the association 'humanrights.ch' in the Counselling Network for Victims of Racism, which publishes annual analytical reports on hate crime.

SELECT YEAR

Download the 2014 hate crime report for Switzerland

OFFICIAL DATA REPORTED BY STATES

Year	Hate crimes recorded by police	Prosecuted	Sentenced
2023	401	Not available	88
2022	346	Not available	84
2021	312	Not available	86
2020	257	Not available	58
2019	228	Not available	53
2018	159	-	45
2017	179	Not available	50
2016	164	-	50
2015	181	57	52
2014	161	14	36
2013	161	23	21
2012	181	15	15
2011	182	14	6
2010	204	33	24
2009	230	36	30

About 2014 Data

Figures consist predominantly of crimes of incitement to hatred and crimes involving discrimination. Only hate crimes committed in public are included in the number presented here.

Hate crime recorded by police

National developments

In addition to recording crimes falling under the Swiss Penal Code provision on discrimination (Art. 261bis StGB), which only covers hate crimes committed in public, Switzerland has also begun monitoring hate crimes that are not committed in public (e.g. racially motivated offences committed in private spaces). This recording is being piloted and is currently optional. Therefore, the data gathered cannot yet be used for hate crime reporting.

KEY OBSERVATION

ODIHR observes that Switzerland has not reported on hate crimes separately from cases of hate speech and/or discrimination.

INTERNATIONAL REPORTS

Racist and xenophobic hate crime, Anti-LGBTI hate crime

In its fifth report on Switzerland, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) recommended that the Swiss authorities improve their system for recording and monitoring violent incidents in order to obtain more reliable statistics on the racist, homophobic or transphobic motivations of offences.

Racist and xenophobic hate crime

The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) recommended the incorporation of a criminal code provision ensuring that racist motivation constitute an aggravating circumstance allowing for more severe punishment.