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Safety · Switzerland
Updated September 2026

✊ I was attacked or threatened because of who I am — who do I report it to?

Direct answer

Violence, threats or damage motivated by origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability is a hate crime with higher penalties, and it is under-reported — which is why reporting matters. Kantonspolizei — Suisse ePolice (suisse-epolice.ch): say explicitly that you believe the motive was hate, and ask for it to be recorded as such. Eidg. Büro für die Gleichstellung (EBG) / Fachstelle für Rassismusbekämpfung (ebg.admin.ch) — the equality body — supports victims, monitors how the police handle it and can take a discrimination case in parallel. Opferhilfe Schweiz (kantonale Beratungsstellen) (opferhilfe-schweiz.ch) offers free support, also if you decide not to report.

Call firstKantonspolizei — Suisse ePolice
Report toEidg. Büro für die Gleichstellung (EBG) / Fachstelle für Rassismusbekämpfung
If that failsOpferhilfe Schweiz (kantonale Beratungsstellen)

🗣️ What to say

"On [date] at [place] I was [attacked / threatened / insulted] by [description]. They said [words] which show it was because of my [origin / religion / orientation / …]. Witnesses: [names]. I want this recorded as a hate crime."

🪜 Step by step

  1. Safety and medical careGet out of the situation; see a doctor and ask for injuries to be documented.
  2. EvidencePhotos, the exact words used, witnesses' contacts, camera locations nearby.
  3. Report to Kantonspolizei — Suisse ePoliceUse the words "hate crime" or "bias motive". Ask for a copy of the report and the case number.
  4. Tell Eidg. Büro für die Gleichstellung (EBG) / Fachstelle für RassismusbekämpfungEquality bodies track these cases, support victims, and can intervene if the police do not take it seriously.
  5. Support: Opferhilfe Schweiz (kantonale Beratungsstellen)Counselling, help with the process, compensation claims — free.

📇 All contacts

Kantonspolizei — Suisse ePoliceReport online or at the stationAlways; you need the reference for the bank🔗 www.suisse-epolice.ch
Eidg. Büro für die Gleichstellung (EBG) / Fachstelle für RassismusbekämpfungAdvice on discrimination, equality actFor discrimination on sex, origin, disability🔗 www.ebg.admin.ch
Opferhilfe Schweiz (kantonale Beratungsstellen)Statutory victim support: advice, emergency help, compensationAfter any crime🔗 www.opferhilfe-schweiz.ch
Unentgeltliche Rechtspflege (Gericht) / Rechtsauskunft des KantonsFree legal information and court costs on low incomeWhen you cannot afford a lawyer🔗 www.ch.ch/de/gerichte/unentgeltliche-rechtspflege

❓ Frequently asked

The police did not record the motive

Ask in writing for the motive to be added; involve Eidg. Büro für die Gleichstellung (EBG) / Fachstelle für Rassismusbekämpfung. Recording the bias motive matters for the charge and for statistics.

It was online

Hate speech online is prosecutable; save screenshots with URLs and report to the platform and the police (see the online-harassment page).

I do not want to report but need help

Opferhilfe Schweiz (kantonale Beratungsstellen) and community organisations support you without a report. Some countries have third-party reporting so the incident is counted anonymously.

📎 Sources

Last checked: 2026-09-26

🔎 Common searches

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  • “report hate crime Switzerland”
  • “racist attack police report”
  • “homophobic assault what to do”
  • “equality body hate crime support”
  • “hate speech online report Switzerland”

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