Reporting misconduct

Misconduct can occur in many different forms and situations. For an overview over behaviour that may constitute misconduct, please consult UNHCR’s general Help Page: Misconduct by anyone working for or with UNHCR – UNHCR Frequently asked questions.

If you or someone you know have been a victim of fraud, corruption, sexual abuse or exploitation, or other misconduct conducted by the personnel of UNHCR or its partner organizations, please report it to the UNHCR Inspector General Office through their online complaint form.

Your report will be treated with discretion and kept strictly confidential.

Filing a complaint anonymously is possible. However, please note that the more facts and evidence you provide, the better the case can be investigated.

For more information, please visit IGO’s webpage.

Complaints against misconduct of Swiss civil servants at the federal level

The Swiss Government has established complaints platforms, through which misconduct committed by  civil servants can be reported. Complaints will be treated confidentially and can also be submitted anonymously.

• Misconduct committed by staff of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), including employees of Swiss Embassies, can be reported through the FDFA’s whistleblowing platform: EQS Integrity Line.
• Misconduct committed by staff of the Swiss Federal authorities, including fraud, corruption and breach of confidentiality, can be reported through the whistleblowing platform of the Swiss Federal Audit Office: Home – BKMS System

Complaints mechanisms in Federal Asylum Centres

If you wish to raise a complaint regarding your stay at a Federal Asylum Centre (FAC), you can do so through the available complaint mechanisms. In each FAC, you will find post boxes available where you can report issues. The staff working in the FAC can inform you about the available complaint mechanisms. Swiss authorities are also working to establish an external independent office for  complaints related to the the FAC. You can find more information (in German) here: Pilotprojekt «Externe Meldestelle»

Ombudspersons

Ombudspersons can mediate between you and cantonal authorities or specific institutions (such as insurance companies or financial institutions). You can contact them when you think that you have been treated wrongly or are facing an issue with the relevant institution. The services of Ombudspersons are usually provided free of charge.

Please find a list of Ombudspersons’s offices in Switzerland here: Ombudsadressen • VPO.