Service for Combating Racism

Report on racial discrimination in Switzerland 2019/2020

The fifth report by the Service for Combating Racism analyzes current data on racial discrimination and presents measures implemented by the government and civil society actors in combatting racism. The SCRA reports are a monitoring instrument on social cohesion in Switzerland and serve as a reference for experts and stakeholders. The report is available in German, French and Italian (go to press release).

New reports on antisemitism

A new legal analysis addresses the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism. A second analysis evaluates the policy against antisemitism at federal, cantonal and municipal level and recommends further measures against racism and antisemitism. The two reports form the basis for the report answering to the postulate regarding the working definition of antisemitism by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) adopted by the Federal Council in June 2021. Find all reports here.

The Service for Combating Racism (SCRA) is a federal government body tasked with preventing racism. It plans, develops, promotes and coordinates relevant activities at the federal, cantonal and communal level. It:

• initiates and promotes awareness-raising and prevention measures to eliminate racial discrimination and strengthen human rights
• improves legal protection against discrimination
• produces national and international reports
• provides financial support to Swiss projects that combat racism and champion human rights

When talking about racism and racial discrimination, it is important to establish a common understanding of the terms being used in the discussion. The SCRA uses the following terminology.