Court dismisses discrimination case against Swiss paraplegic
Switzerland's policy on the rights of disabled people could face international criticism despite a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights.
Keystone/Gaetan Bally
The European Court of Human Rights has thrown out a complaint by a Swiss paraplegic about his inability to gain access to a cinema in Geneva.
This content was published on
2 minutes
swissinfo.ch/urs
The Strasbourg-based panel of judges declared the application of the wheelchair-bound man inadmissibleExternal link, saying the “right to respect for private and family life” did not apply in this case.
“The court thus saw no cause to go against the findings of the Federal Court, which had held that the convention [on the protection against discrimination] did not oblige Switzerland to adopt, in its domestic legislation, a concept of discrimination of the kind sought [by the complainant]”, according to a court statement published on Thursday.
The incident dates back to 2008 when the man was refused access to a local Geneva cinema. Its management referred to internal safety instructions as the building was not adapted to wheelchair users.
The applicant claimed he had been the victim of discrimination and filed a complaint at a local court in 2009, which dismissed the case, as did all higher courts in Switzerland over the next two years.
Disappointment
Inclusion HandicapExternal link, the organisation representing disabled people in Switzerland, expressed disappointment about the European court ruling, saying it left disabled people in Switzerland “to a large extent unprotected against discriminatory services by private operators”.
However, Inclusion Handicap says Swiss laws will continue to come under pressure as they are “not compatible with the United Nations conventionExternal link on the rights of persons with disabilities”.
A UN body is due to review Switzerland’s policy next year.
More
More
People in wheelchairs can drink and drive!
This content was published on
“True Talk” puts people in front of the camera who are fighting prejudice. We speak to Hitzi, who says Switzerland is not at all wheelchair friendly.
Is your place of origin, your Heimatort, important to you?
Every Swiss citizen has a Heimatort, a place of origin, but many have never visited theirs. What’s your relationship with your Heimatort? What does it mean to you?
This content was published on
The President of the Swiss Conference of Bishops wants a national digital register of clergy – in the interest of transparency.
Switzerland is Europe’s most innovative country, EU study finds
This content was published on
In the European Commission's annual ranking, the Swiss score dropped slightly in 2025, but not enough to cost it top spot.
Women’s Euro 2025 has been largely peaceful so far
This content was published on
After two weeks of football fever in various Swiss host cities, no major incidents have been reported so far, police say.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Disabled group takes Swiss trains to Supreme Court
This content was published on
Switzerland’s umbrella organisation for disabled groups is taking the new double-decker trains to the Supreme Court, saying they are illegal.
This content was published on
In Switzerland many deaf pupils go to mainstream schools. But the Swiss Federation of the Deaf says that many pupils struggle with this approach.
This content was published on
At eight years old, Manarekha still has difficulty speaking and counting. But now she is helped by a pioneering school in the Swiss canton of Ticino.
Should people with severe mental disabilities be able to vote?
This content was published on
People with disabilities who have been placed under full guardianship do not have the right to vote in Switzerland. Is this discrimination?
This content was published on
Only 18 months after requiring a wheelchair, Judith Safford has accomplished her dream of climbing several of Switzerland’s highest peaks.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.