Cases of violence at federal asylum centres: HEKS/EPER welcomes the recommendations of the investigation report
HEKS/EPER supports the recommendations set out in the report by former federal judge Niklaus Oberholzer on safety in Federal Asylum Centres (FACs), designed to prevent incidents of violence and ensure that such incidents can be better looked into. HEKS/EPER further welcomes the creation of an independent complaints office, which strengthens the rights of asylum seekers and enhances the credibility of the procedure.
Commissioned by the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), the report on the investigation of incidents of violence at federal asylum centres was published in mid-October. The SEM commissioned the outside investigation after several reports surfaced of violent incidents at federal asylum centres.
HEKS/EPER welcomes the investigations subsequently undertaken and the resulting recommendations, which are designed to prevent all forms of violence at FACs and facilitate the best possible elucidation of such incidents. HEKS/EPER specifically supports the recommendation that there be a review of the reporting processes for special incidents and that clearer legal bases are created with respect to coercive measures. These must serve to enhance transparency and the possibility to establish clarity.