Switzerland

Switzerland regularly reports hate crime data to ODIHR. Switzerland's Criminal Code does not contain hate crime provisions, although hate crimes are prosecuted under discrimination and hate speech provisions. As such, the data reported to ODIHR include cases of incitement to hatred and discrimination. Information on hate crimes is collected by the Federal Commission against Racism and the Statistical Office and published. The Federal Commission against Racism partners with the association 'humanrights.ch' in the Counselling Network for Victims of Racism, which continuously publishes yearly analytical reports.

How hate crime data is collected in Switzerland

How hate crime data is collected in Switzerland

Hate crimes are prosecuted under Article 261bis of the Swiss Criminal Code, which protects against acts of racial discrimination committed in public. As a result, there are offences registered that fall outside of the OSCE's definition of hate crime. On the other hand, many acts that would fall under the definition, but which are not carried out in public, are not recorded under Article 261bis of the Criminal Code.

Hate crimes are not recorded as a distinct category by the police. However, the Federal Office for Statistics has completely updated the Police Crime Statistics (PCS) system, and it is now possible to record offences that do not fall under Article 261bis of the Criminal Code as having a racist motive (such as a racially motivated offence not committed in public). However, this feature is only optional, and the validity of the record depends on the relevant training and instruction of the police. The data is thus not used for the hate crime report.

Neither prosecutors nor the judiciary record hate crimes. The only information recorded about hate crimes are statistics on convictions related to Article 261bis and 261 (including the desecration of places of worship) of the Criminal Code, which are published by the Federal Office for Statistics. The Federal Intelligence Service (FIS) collects and analyses the judgements and decisions related to Article 261bis. The Federal Commission against Racism maintains a database of those judgements and decisions related to Article 261bis, which are pronounced by cantonal law enforcement agencies and courts as well as by the Federal Supreme Court. The database provides statistics that classify data according to bias motivation, target groups and the type of offence or incident.

Access more information at the Legislation Online website Legislationline TANDIS Access more information at the Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Information System (TANDIS) website

OFFICIAL DATA

Year Hate crimes recorded by police Prosecuted Sentenced
2019 228 Not available 49
2018 159 - 56
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 2016 Data

    Figures consist of hate crimes committed in public, of crimes of incitement to hatred and crimes involving discrimination. As such, many of incidents listed here fall outside the scope of the OSCE definition of a hate crime.

Hate crime recorded by police

A breakdown by bias motivation is available for the totality of all discrimination cases but not for hate crimes. People of African descent were the most targeted group, followed by crimes motivated by bias against Muslims. Actual hate crime cases, which are presented here, are therefore only broken down by type of crime.

INCIDENTS REPORTED BY OTHER SOURCES

Racist and xenophobic hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2016-07 Violent attacks against people
Consultation Network for the Victims of Racism
 Show info
2016 Threats
Consultation Network for the Victims of Racism
 Show info
2016 Violent attacks against people
Consultation Network for the Victims of Racism
 Show info
2016-12 Violent attacks against people
Consultation Network for the Victims of Racism
 Show info
2016 Threats
Consultation Network for the Victims of Racism
 Show info
2016 Threats
Consultation Network for the Victims of Racism
 Show info
2016 Threats
Consultation Network for the Victims of Racism
 Show info
2016 Threats
Consultation Network for the Victims of Racism
 Show info
2016 Violent attacks against people
Consultation Network for the Victims of Racism
 Show info
2016-08 Violent attacks against people
Consultation Network for the Victims of Racism
 Show info
2016 Threats
Consultation Network for the Victims of Racism
 Show info
2016 Violent attacks against people
Consultation Network for the Victims of Racism
 Show info
2016 Attacks against property
Consultation Network for the Victims of Racism
 Show info
2016 Violent attacks against people
Consultation Network for the Victims of Racism
 Show info
2016 Violent attacks against people
Consultation Network for the Victims of Racism
 Show info

Anti-Semitic hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2016-03 Threats
CICAD
 Show info
2016-05 Attacks against property
CICAD
 Show info
2016-05 Threats
CICAD
 Show info
2016-12 Attacks against property
CICAD
 Show info
2016-05 Violent attacks against people
CICAD
 Show info
2016 Attacks against property
Consultation Network for the Victims of Racism
 Show info
2016-10 Threats
Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities (SIG)
 Show info
2016-05 Violent attacks against people
Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities (SIG)
 Show info
2016-04 Violent attacks against people
Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities (SIG)
 Show info
2016-02 Attacks against property
Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities (SIG)
 Show info

Anti-Muslim hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2016-12 Violent attacks against people
SETA
 Show info
2016-11 Violent attacks against people
Consultation Network for the Victims of Racism
 Show info

Anti-Christian hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2016-07 Violent attacks against people
Jehovah's Witnesses
 Show info

Other hate crime based on religion or belief

Date Type of incident Source Description
2016 Threats
Consultation Network for the Victims of Racism
 Show info

Disability hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2016 Violent attacks against people
Consultation Network for the Victims of Racism
 Show info

Anti-LGBTI hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2016 Threats
Consultation Network for the Victims of Racism
 Show info

INTERNATIONAL REPORTS

No information is available.

KEY OBSERVATION

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