About us
The Swiss Refugee Council (SFH-OSAR) was established in 1936 and is a non-governmental, politically and religiously independent organization active in the field of asylum and refugee issues. It represents the interests of asylum seekers, refugees and refugee aid agencies in Switzerland towards the federal authorities, as well as the Swiss public.
Our Aims
- to work towards fair asylum procedures, enabling threatened and persecuted people to be recognized as refugees in Switzerland;
- to provide adequate support for refugees who may stay permanently in Switzerland;
- to ensure sufficient and accurate advice for those who have to leave our country because they were not granted asylum;
- to make efforts in creating an open and tolerant Switzerland, where refugees may feel at home. This includes the struggle against any form of racism and xenophobia.
Our Partners and Members
SFH-OSAR is a member of the European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE). The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as well as the Swiss Federal Office for Migration (FOM) are important partners.
SFH-OSAR is a federation of all important Swiss aid organizations working for refugees and asylum seekers. Its member organizations are Caritas (Catholic Aid Organization), HEKS (the Aid Organization of the Protestant Churches of Switzerland), SAH (Swiss Labour Aid), VSJF (Association of Swiss Jewish Refugee Aid and Welfare Organizations), and the Swiss Section of Amnesty International. Moreover, the Council is associated with the Swiss Red Cross, Christian Service for Peace, Refugee Aid, the Salvation Army, Social Services International SSI, Refugee assistance and Liechtenstein Red Cross.
