Summary

Switzerland has adopted its first national strategy against racism and antisemitism. The Federal Council and the Office for Combating Racism now coordinate measures across all federal levels through four areas of action. Antisemitic incidents in Switzerland have risen sharply since the Gaza conflict – by over 40% in 2024 compared to the previous year. The strategy runs until 2031 and aims for better structures and reduced dark figures, not the elimination of racism itself.

People

Topics

  • National Antisemitism Strategy
  • International OSCE Conference (St. Gallen)
  • Federal Coordination between Federal and Cantonal Levels
  • Monitoring and Dark Figures
  • Social Responsibility

Clarus Lead

In December 2025, Switzerland made a historic shift: the Federal Council adopted its first national strategy against racism and antisemitism. This coordinates measures across four areas of action – monitoring, protection, institutional anchoring, and social engagement – until 2031. The background is alarming: in 2024, 221 antisemitic incidents were registered, over 40% more than in 2023. Marianne Helfer, head of the Federal Office for Combating Racism, emphasizes that October 7, 2023, was only a trigger – antisemitism is a historical constant in Switzerland.

Detailed Summary

The strategy was developed after extensive consultation with authorities, civil society, and academia. Helfer acknowledges that Switzerland had catching up to do – previously there were only cantonal and municipal individual solutions. Central to this is federal coordination: police and schools fall under cantonal jurisdiction, which is why federal-cantonal coordination is decisive. Austria and Germany served as reference points, for example through the appointment of antisemitism officers in each federal state.

The incident figures reveal a differentiated picture. Online hate content is frequent, while physical attacks – such as the assault in Zurich – remain isolated cases. Helfer warns against blanket attributions of blame to "left-wing," "right-wing," or "Muslim" antisemites. Monitoring data suggests rather broadly distributed anti-Jewish attitudes – present in equal measure among men, rural residents, and right-wing voters as among Muslims. The central problem: antisemitism is increasingly becoming "normalized" and "socially acceptable" in society, as the conflict creates space for open expression.

The strategy amounts to limited resources. The Office's staff grew by one and a half positions; new funding was lacking. Success will not be measured by a decline in racism by 2031, but by better structures, reduced dark figures, and stronger institutional anchoring. The OSCE Conference in St. Gallen serves for exchange – Helfer hopes to gain insights into structural solutions from other countries and conveys an optimistic tone: unlike in 2025, alert fatigue has decreased, which facilitates focused work.

Key Statements

  • First national strategy: The Federal Council adopted a coordinated framework at the end of 2025 with four areas of action and a time horizon until 2031
  • Rising incident numbers: 221 antisemitic cases were registered in 2024 (+40% compared to 2023); October 7 was a catalyst, not a cause
  • Structural core problem: antisemitism is anchored in the middle of society, not at its margins; widespread normalization complicates opposition
  • Federal challenge: police and schools fall under cantonal jurisdiction; successful implementation requires binding federal-cantonal partnerships
  • Limited resources: without new funding, coordination depends on voluntariness and redistribution of existing resources
  • Realistic success measurement: in 2031, success will not be measured by less racism, but by better structures and reduced dark figures

Critical Questions

  1. Evidence/Data Quality: The Office cites monitoring data and incident figures, but Helfer herself acknowledges that the dark figure is "by far the absolute majority." How valid are conclusions (e.g., about the broad distribution of anti-Jewish attitudes) when 80–90% of cases are not recorded?

  2. Conflicts of Interest/Independence: The national strategy was developed on the basis of hearings with authorities, civil society, and academia. How was it ensured that interest groups with diverging agendas (e.g., Islamic organizations vs. Jewish organizations) received equal voice and no distortion occurred?

  3. Causality/Alternatives: Helfer says October 7 was only a "trigger" for latent antisemitism. But are the +40% figures for 2024 actually explainable through activation of existing prejudices, or do new narratives, algorithms, and media coverage play a reinforcing role? Were alternative explanatory models examined?

  4. Feasibility/Resources: The strategy amounts to "existing resources" plus one and a half additional positions. How realistic is it to implement measures across four areas of action over five years in a coordinated manner when cantons are not obligated and financial incentives are lacking?

  5. Definition and Delimitation: Helfer defines antisemitism as Jew-hostility and a form of racism. But how does the Office distinguish between criticism of Israeli policy and anti-Jewish stereotypes in practice? This distinction is central in incident reporting but is not addressed.

  6. Impact Measurement 2031: Success criteria (better structures, reduced dark figures) are difficult to measure and debt-dependent. What specific indicators (e.g., ratio of reported vs. estimated cases, cantonal laws against racism) will be collected from 2026 onwards to take stock in 2031?

  7. Normalization Effect: Helfer warns of "normalization" of antisemitism. But could a campaign year such as the planned "action weeks against racism" also have the opposite effect – by ritualizing the issue and keeping attention temporary without structural change?

  8. International Parallels: At the OSCE conference, other countries showed declines in incidents since 2024. Were these countries systematically analyzed to understand which measures were effective there, or did the exchange primarily serve networking purposes?

Source List

Primary Source: [SRF Tagesgesprächch: National Strategy Against Antisemitism and Racism] – https://download-media.srf.ch/world/audio/Tagesgespraech_radio/2026/02/Tagesgespraech_radio_AUDI20260210_NR_0085_4b196ea978da4d01bda6602defa0b354.mp3

Verification Status: ✓ 10.02.2026

This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial Responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-Check: 10.02.2026