Waiting inside the deportation prison at Zurich airport
Keystone
Switzerland is facing criticism about its asylum policy in Amnesty International’s annual round-up by of human rights abuses worldwide. The organisation targets the practice of forced deportations.
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The chapter on Switzerland recalls the case of the rejected Nigerian asylum seeker who was beaten by police officers at Zurich airport in July 2011. Amnesty says the incident was never examined by independent experts.
It also criticises the slow pace of a legal investigation into the death of another Nigerian asylum seeker who was to be put on a deportation flight in March 2010. His family still has not received any financial damages, according to Amnesty.
Cuts in welfare benefits and conditions at asylum centres have also come in for criticism by the London-based human rights group.
As in previous years, Amnesty refers to a perceived lack of legal means to fight racism and discrimination.
The chapter on Switzerland is part of a global overview which highlights the pro-democracy movements in the Middle East. However, Amnesty says vocal support for the protests shown by many global and regional powers has not translated into action.
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The charter of the United Nations, founded in 1945, aims to promote the respect and implementation of basic and human rights. Until the Second World War, human rights were almost always a matter of individual states.
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