Caritas Switzerland Annual Report of Activities - CARITAS - Schweiz

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Third-class citizens? Headlines about high numbers of immigrants, demands that restrictions be imposed, as well as housing problems all sensationalise asylum policy. Asylum seekers face harsh conditions in Switzerland. What gets forgotten is that every person has the right to apply for asylum in another country. Based on this basic principle of human rights, all asylum seekers have the right to a fair and proper process. 20
Assisting asylum seekers with legal advice Africa Ethiopia 3% Eritrea 18% Somalia 8% Other Africa 16% Origin of the individuals given advice by continent Other, stateless or no details: 1 % With its two legal advice centres in Central Switzerland and in the Canton of Fribourg, Caritas Switzerland advocates and supports an asylum procedure that is based on human rights and the rule of law. The aim of its advice sessions is to explain the legal provisions and the procedures to asylum seekers. In a first interview, Caritas’ legal advisers assess their clients’ chances of success. Caritas only takes on the legal representation of asylum seekers if there are concrete chances of success: if the conditions of qualifying for refugee status were not correctly assessed or insufficiently examined, if a removal order was made unjustly, or if grave procedural mistakes were made. At the same time, Caritas operates a repatriation advice centre on behalf of the central Swiss Cantons of Obwalden, Schwyz and Zug, which supports asylum seekers willing to return home with reintegration in their country. Last year, Caritas carried out 963 legal consultations for asylum seekers. Of the persons receiving advice, most came from Eritrea. 21 Europe Kosovo 4% Turkey 4% Other Europe 5% Asia (incl. Middle East) Afghanistan 7% China 4% Iraq 5% Iran 6% Sri Lanka 9% Syria 3% Other Asia incl. Middle East 7% In Zug and Nidwalden, Caritas also supports unaccompanied minor asylum seekers on behalf of these Cantons. Finally, Caritas operates accommodation centres in the Cantons of Schwyz and Obwalden. In the past year, Caritas conducted a total of 963 legal advice sessions for asylum seekers. The persons seeking advice came from many different countries: Most advice seekers were from Eritrea (18 per cent), Sri Lanka (9 per cent), Afghanistan (7 per cent) and Somalia (8 per cent). In 85 cases, Caritas filed a complaint. Two thirds of the petitions to the Federal Administrative Court were approved. By comparison, the Federal Administrative Court’s general approval rate in recent years has only been around 15 per cent. In practical terms, these individuals gained the right to further investigations, an order to entertain an application (Eintretensentscheid), or the right to asylum. This high success rate is attributable in particular to the strict selection criteria when taking on a case. 99 individuals were able to receive professional legal representation thanks to Caritas Switzerland taking on their case. In 86 cases, the persons receiving advice involved families with children, and in 877 cases individual asylum seekers.
Page 1 and 2: Answers 2011 Caritas Switzerland An
Page 3: tion policy and the introduction of
Page 6 and 7: Our work to ensure access to water
Page 8 and 9: How can East Africa be helped effec
Page 10 and 11: Our effort to assist the drought vi
Page 12 and 13: How do people achieve their rights?
Page 14 and 15: Caritas projects worldwide 1 In Ban
Page 16 and 17: Does debt counselling help to tackl
Page 18 and 19: Our involvement in the fight agains
Page 22 and 23: Why do mountain farmers need help?
Page 24 and 25: Caritas in figures Balance as per 3
Page 26 and 27: In brief 26 Almost free holidays fo
Page 28 and 29: Strong partnerships We thank our do
Page 30 and 31: Organs Fulvio Caccia Michèle Berge
Page 32: We help people. 32

Caritas Switzerland Annual Report of Activities - CARITAS - Schweiz

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