Rise of racism and anti-Semitism in Switzerland prompts new strategy

Switzerland is to set a national strategy to tackle racism and anti-Semitism with scores of politicians and activist groups meeting this week to thrash out a plan. It comes as incidents of both crimes continue to rise.

Perhaps surprisingly Switzerland has no national strategy for tackling racism and anti-Semitism but the government has a plan to come up with one by the end of the year.

Federal councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider met with 200 stakeholders to thrash out the basis of a national strategy with the aim for it to be adopted by December.

The move comes after the high profile suspension of four police officers in Lausanne for allegedly posting racist and anti-Semitic messages.

“Racism and anti-Semitism cause real suffering. This suffering is attested to by studies, data, monitoring reports, scientific research, and, of course, the testimonies of those affected,” said Elisabeth Baume-Schneider.

The strategy will reportedly focus on three themes that emerged during consultations with a large number of stakeholders: improving data collection and use, strengthening the legal and institutional framework, and developing collaboration between the Confederation, cantons, municipalities, and civic society.

Switzerland has seen the number of reports of racism and anti-Semitism has risen in recent years.

Figures from 2024 showed a 40 percent rise in reported cases of racism compared to the previous year. Reported cases of xenophobia rose by 35 percent and cases of Islamophobia also rose.

According to one survey 17 percent of the population in Switzerland said they had been a victim of racial discrimination in the last five years.

Anti-Semitic acts have also seen an unprecedented rise in Switzerland due to the wars in the Middle East. They increased by nearly 90 percent in French-speaking Switzerland in 2024, according to the Intercommunity Coordination Against Anti-Semitism and Defamation (CICAD).

A study released in March revealed that xenophobic attitudes towards certain population groups in Switzerland have increased since 2020.

Readers of The Local also recounted incidents of xenophobia in a recent survey with some saying they no longer put pictures on their CVs. Another reader reported being told “to go back to America”.