Swiss group calls for Tolerance Centre
A group of prominent Swiss politicians, officials and businessmen wants to open a Swiss Centre for Tolerance.
A group of prominent Swiss politicians, officials and businessmen wants to open a Swiss Centre for Tolerance.
The centre, probably to be located in the federal capital, Berne, is intended to be a place for Switzerland’s open encounter with its past and with its present position towards foreigners.
The idea for such a centre stems from 1995 when the Swiss accepted the law against racism and signed the United Nations convention against racial discrimination in all forms. It was also a year marked by the continuing debate over Switzerland’s role during the Second World War.
“Like other countries, we need a special effort. We want to devote our action primarily to young people,” says Philippe Lévy, vice chairman of the association founded to promote the project. “They will build our future and they have to make sure that we don’t live in a society
full of antagonism and discrimination,” he adds.
Switzerland has a resident foreign population of 1,383,600 out of 7,123,500 inhabitants – almost 20 per cent of the total.
The Centre for Tolerance is expected to have three fields of activity:
– holding exhibitions, events, workshops from a fixed location
– holding exhibitions, events, workshops all over Switzerland
– acting as a study, research, publication and documentation centre from its fixed location
“We think we should fight for equality, freedom of thought and for the existence of people with different opinions. We want our children to live in a tolerant society,” says Lévy.
The authorities of the city and canton of Berne have announced their willingness to support the Swiss Centre for Tolerance in the search for suitable premises. Total investment is estimated at SFr7 – 13 million.
“We can count on financial support from the Swiss Confederation because of its obligation under the UN convention and we hope that private foundations and companies will also contribute so that we can achieve our goal,” says Lévy.
No opening date for the centre has yet been fixed.
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