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Legal Issues

What are your rights and obligations in Switzerland? On this page we have summarised the most important contacts for advice centres relating to topics like residence permits, naturalisation, family reunification, marriage, and protection against discrimination.

Residency

Naturalised Citizenship and Family Reunification

The following websites have important information and contacts on this topic:

Legal advice and migration law

The following institutions provide free or low-cost legal advice:

You can find a list of legal advice centres on the City of Bern’s website. (DE)

Getting involved in politics as a migrant

In the city of Bern, even if you don’t have a Swiss passport, you can submit a request directly to the city parliament. This is called a participation motion. For example, a participation motion was made asking the city of Bern to produce information in Kurdish, which it now does. (DE)

Special rights and protection against discrimination

  • The City of Bern’s Ombudsstelle advises and mediates in conflicts with the city administration. (DE) 

Have you experienced racism or other discrimination? Do you want to support other people who have experienced discrimination? The following offices can provide you with information and advice:

  • gggfon - Gemeinsam gegen Gewalt und Rassismus (DE)
  • Support tools and tips for dealing with hate speech can be found on Stop Hate Speech. (DE, FR)
  • Report online racism is a platform run by the Federal Commission against Racism (FCR) where you can report racist remarks made online – derogatory remarks or comments based on skin colour, ethnicity, national origin or religion.

Reporting centres for other forms of racism or discrimination:

 

Are you pregnant and currently employed? Mothers and pregnant people have special rights.

Do you have questions about getting married?

  • You can find more information about getting married and marriage rights at ch.ch. (EN, DE, FR, IT, RM)
  • Only you decide if, whom and when you marry! Have you experienced it otherwise? The City of Bern’s website on forced marriages provides more information on this topic. (DE)
  • Are you in a binational relationship? Are you new in Switzerland? The organisation Frabina offers professional counselling for people of different nationalities and cultures living together. (EN, DE, FR, ES)
  • The Women's Counseling Center Infra Bern offers free, multilingual counseling on legal topics related to marriage, divorce, maternity leave and immigration law. (EN, FR)

Domestic violence

  • The Canton of Bern has a summary of different counselling centres on a convenient emergency card in many languages.
  • There are various contact centres in the cantons that can provide advice if you think someone is at risk of becoming radicalised. You can find the contact centres in the canton of Bern here. (DE, FR, IT)
  • Fachstelle Radikalisierung und Gewaltprävention (Office against radicalisation and violence).
    Further information can be found on the City of Bern website. (DE)

Weitere Informationen.

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