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The city of Bern says it is the first Swiss municipality to declare itself a ‘safe haven’ for people rescued from distress at sea. The city government is committed to new and strengthened programs for the legal admission of refugees, it said.
The city announced on Monday that more powers are being requested from cities and municipalities. The current division of powers in the Swiss asylum and refugee system severely limits the possibilities for urban involvement.
More than 300 cities and municipalities are ‘safe havens’
The city of Bern is ready to accept more people than before. It provides the necessary resources for human care and social participation of those who arrive and advocates for safe prospects of residence, the report said.
At the end of January, the city council (executive) adopted the ‘Safe Harbor’ declaration based on the criteria of the Seebrücke organization. According to the organization, more than 320 cities and municipalities have declared themselves ‘safe havens’.
In sea rescues, a safe harbor is a place where a sea rescue operation can be completed safely, as stated by the city of Bern. On this basis, the organization “Seebrücke” launched the idea of figuratively creating safe havens throughout Europe.
Many people drown in the Mediterranean Sea
It is “more than just symbolic politics,” says city councilor and social leader Franziska Teuscher (65, Greens) in the press release. The municipal council is concerned about the great need and unsustainable conditions in refugee centers in the Mediterranean and about the large number of people who die every year while crossing the Mediterranean Sea.
A humane and active asylum and refugee policy is a major concern for both the municipal government and the city council. Questions about asylum and refugee policy shaped the political debate in the city of Bern. A 2020 postulate led to a declaration on a “safe haven” in the city parliament. (SDA)
Source:Blick
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