Kurdish Syrian man sets himself on fire outside UNHCR
Police have said the 31-year-old man was too injured to establish a motive, but suspected it was political. He is receiving treatment at a nearby burn trauma unit.
Switzerland
Switzerland must improve protection for trafficking victims, Council of Europe
Switzerland has made progress when it comes to the identification and protection of victims of trafficking -- but there is still much to be done. That's what the Council of Europe's Group of Experts on Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) says in a new report.
Migrant death toll in Mediterranean tops 1,000 for 6th consecutive year: IOM
For the sixth year in a row, the number of migrants who have died in the Mediterranean Sea has eclipsed the 1,000 mark, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The Mediterranean route remains the most fatal migration route in the world.
'Lethal disregard' for migrants, says UN High Commissioner
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has voiced concern for a number of policies carried out by European countries which she feels express a “lethal disregard” for migrants. In a speech on Monday, Bachelet said actions by some European countries to criminalize NGOs have had “deadly consequences for adults and children seeking safety.”
Millions of refugee children missing out on education: UNHCR
In a new report, the UN refugee agency has highlighted the education crisis among refugee children: Some 3.7 million, or more than half of all refugee minors, don't go to school. Saying a lack of money was the main culprit, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi urged the international community to provide more money and build more schools.
Germany's Seehofer wants tougher checks on Swiss border
German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer wants enhanced controls for travelers arriving from Switzerland following the killing of a boy at Frankfurt's railway station. Opposition politicians have accused him of populism.
UNHCR announces first Global Forum on Refugees
The UN Refugee Agency UNHCR announced it will hold the first Global Forum on Refugees on December 17 and 18, 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland.
Attracting top talent: A question of migration policy
Sweden and Switzerland are among the most favored destinations for skilled migrant workers, according to an international survey. The OECD poll published on Wednesday links countries' migration policies with their attractiveness to workers from abroad.
Sunken migrant vessel displayed at Venice Biennale
A central theme at this year's Art Biennale in Venice, Italy, is migration - despite the increased clamp-down on migration by the Italian government. Several countries chose to display works related to migration at the biannual event, chief among them Switzerland.
Tears of sadness and joy: The difficult task of reuniting parents and children on Europe’s migration routes
More and more unaccompanied and separated children are trying to join their parents in Europe. But the laws and the criteria for family reunification are getting tougher in many countries, the International Social Services Switzerland (ISS) says.
Less than five percent of refugees needing new homes resettled in 2018
Western countries took in less than five percent of refugees needing to be resettled from poorer regions last year, despite record numbers of displaced people around the world. Fewer than 56,000 refugees were given new homes in 2018 under the UN’s resettlement program, a decline from previous years.
Switzerland: Hospitals ordered to report undocumented migrants
A directive requiring hospital staff to report all people who are not legal to authorities has caused a scandal in Switzerland. Physicians who oppose the measure cite the need for "professional secrecy" and the obligation to give care "to anyone in need".