Switzerland to vote in favour of global compact on refugees
The pact envisages reducing the pressure on host countries like Uganda, Lebanon, Turkey and Bangladesh.
Keystone
The Swiss Federal Council has approved voting in favour of a United Nations resolution that calls for better international cooperation in supporting refugees. Parliamentarians had earlier stalled Swiss endorsement of a UN migration pact.
This content was published on
2 minutes
swissinfo.ch/ac
The refugee compact is based on the New York Declaration adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2016. This eventually led to the development of two global frameworks: the global compact for migration and the global compact on refugees. Switzerland has not yet signed the former after opposition from parliamentarians. On Friday, the government confirmed its willingness to sign the latter. The refugee compact will focus on four areas: easing pressure on countries hosting refugees, support such countries in integrating refugees, equitable sharing of the refugee burden and encouraging the return of refugees to their homelands where possible.
“The global compact on refugees thus reaffirms the existing international refugee protection regime, whereas the global compact for migration seeks to improve global coordination in migration matters and was established through intergovernmental negotiations,” said the government in a statement.
Another difference between the two global impacts is the process of adoption. The global compact on refugees was drawn up by the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) after consulting with UN member states. “Instead of being adopted at an intergovernmental conference, it will therefore simply be ‘endorsed’ by the General Assembly in conjunction with its annual resolution on the work of the UNHCR.”
According to the Federal Council, the refugee compact is compatible with Switzerland’s existing international commitments with one exception: it requires the ratification of the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, which Switzerland hasn’t done.
“Given that the global compact on refugees is not legally binding, Switzerland would not be under any additional obligation,” says the Federal Council adding that current Swiss legislation already affords extensive protections to stateless persons.
The Federal Council has asked the foreign ministry to instruct Switzerland’s permanent mission in New York to vote in favour of the resolution.
More
More
Swiss delay decision on UN migration pact
This content was published on
The Swiss government has decided it won’t attend an international conference next month to sign a UN-backed agreement on migration.
University students in Switzerland join Gaza protest wave
This content was published on
Pro-Palestinian activists occupied university buildings in Lausanne, Geneva and Zurich on Tuesday, widening the protest movement in the Alpine nation.
TradeXBank to resume full operations after Sberbank Switzerland taken off sanctions list
This content was published on
TradeXBank, the former Swiss branch of Russia’s Sberbank, will be able to resume its dollar-denominated activities from the second half of this year.
Geneva decides not to remove controversial memorials
This content was published on
The city of Geneva has presented an action plan regarding a series of controversial local statues and monuments of historical figures linked to racism, colonialism or slavery.
University of Lausanne calls for end to pro-Palestine sit-in
This content was published on
The pro-Palestinian occupation continues at the University of Lausanne (UNIL). On Monday evening, a group of students refused to agree to the deadline set by the rectorate.
Ukraine peace conference should include Russia, says Chinese ambassador
This content was published on
China supports a peace conference on the Ukraine war that would see equal participation of all parties, says Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui.
This content was published on
A majority of Swiss citizens have open attitudes towards various infertility treatments, including even egg donation, which is currently prohibited.
Reports of Swiss cyber fraud almost doubled in six months
This content was published on
The head of the new Federal Office for Cybersecurity (FOC), Florian Schütz, has presented a new strategy after just over four months in office.
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
Why refugee numbers in Switzerland are falling
This content was published on
After a spike in 2016, asylum applications in Switzerland have been in steady decline. Migrants are seeking now seeking alternative routes.
Minister: ‘UN aid agency is part of the problem in the Middle East’
This content was published on
United Nations aid work for Palestinian refugees is a stumbling block to peace in the Middle East, hindering integration.
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.