U.S. Department of State 2002 Trafficking in Persons Report - Switzerland

Switzerland (Tier 1)

Switzerland is a country of destination for trafficking victims, almost exclusively women, and, to a lesser extent, a transit country.

The Government of Switzerland fully complies with minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, including making serious and sustained efforts to eliminate severe forms of trafficking with respect to law enforcement, protection of victims, and prevention of trafficking. The Swiss penal code criminalizes sexual exploitation, forced prostitution, trafficking, and taking advantage of a person's distress or dependency due to employment or other condition. The cantonal authorities conduct investigations and prosecutions, and the numbers of cases have increased over time. To protect victims, the Federal Office of Police and cantonal justice and police authorities collaborate with NGOs to provide assistance to victims of trafficking. Federal authorities are working with cantonal authorities through a federal-NGO working group to ensure that victims are not deported. Swiss victims' assistance laws cover foreigners living unlawfully in Switzerland, and provide for counseling, protections and safeguarding victims' rights. The government supports NGOs that help trafficking victims, notably one that provides services to women from Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe. To prevent trafficking, the Federal Office of Police launched a pioneer project several years ago to institutionalize the exchange of information with NGOs on commercial sexual exploitation of children. The government funds several prevention programs intended to combat trafficking from Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. With NGO participation, the government trains its consular officials to educate visa applicants on the risks of falling victim to traffickers and common ploys used by traffickers to lure women into vulnerable situations. The government also provided funding to an OSCE project on trafficking.