Carole Vann/Human Rights Tribune - For the first time in its history, Bern is going to have its human rights record audited by the UN. This process known as the “universal periodic review” is the major change initiated by the Human Rights Council which succeeded the former Commission in June 2006. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheline Calmy Rey, accompanied by a 20 strong delegation, is replying this morning to criticism from a coalition of 30 non-governmental organisations. The three hour tightly controlled procedure is taking place in the Palais des Nations where Mrs Calmy Rey will take questions and comments from UN member states during an interactive dialogue.

The UN’s scrutiny of human rights around the world – every country is up for examination every 4 years – began last month with a first batch of 16 countries. Switzerland is part of a second group that is being examined over a two-week period. At every hearing, three ambassadors —chosen by lots – are tasked with reporting on the exchanges and making recommendations to the government concerned. This time round it will be ambassadors from Pakistan, South Africa and Uruguay.

The periodic review is based on three sources of information: the government’s report, recommendations of UN experts – in March 2007 the special UN rapporteur on racism, Doudou Diene, criticised Switzerland in a report which referred to “displays of racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia” – and information gathered by independent NGOs. Drawing on this information from various sources, the observer is able to have a good idea of the human rights situation in any given country, even if the government presents a rosy picture of its record.

In its report, a coalition of NGOs particularly criticised discrimination of migrants and women in Switzerland, a toughening of asylum policy, abuse by the police as well as “racist and discriminatory behaviour”. The NGOs are asking the Confederation to ratify Un conventions on migrant workers, enforced disappearances and on the handicapped. They say that Bern should introduce anti discrimination legislation.

Interviewed on the phone, the spokesperson for the right wing Swiss People’s party [Union Démocratique du Centre], Alain Hauert is unimpressed by the international community’s interference in the “internal affairs of our country”. He said, “In Switzerland the people are sovereign and decide their own laws. They are not subject to international bodies such as the EU or the UN. What is more we find it ridiculous that countries that violate human rights can judge us. Our police treat foreigners perfectly well and we don’t need such a process”.

Sandra Imhoff, co-ordinator of the NGO coalition does not agree. “Switzerland is very active internationally and human rights play an important role in its foreign policy”, she said at a press conference in February. “ It is far from being the case in its domestic policy. It is a matter of being coherent and credible”.

Translated from French by Claire Doole