An essential witness

At the start of the procedure the asylum seekers are questioned by civil servants from the federal office of migration (ODM) about their motives for running. These clarifications are the basis on which the decision is taken relative to their request; The law on asylum states that these interviews be held in the presence of a representative of a help organization (ROE). The work of the four recognized organizations is coordinated by the Swiss Organization of help for refugees OSAR. OSAR trains representatives for the help organization and give information to them on the general context.

The representatives play a neutral role during the interviews. They can ask during the interview that specific questions be asked the asylum seeker, formulate objections and solicit a second interview in order to obtain further clarifications. The objective is to make sure that the interview is carried out in a calm atmosphere and that the asylum seeker has the opportunity to explain his or her motives properly.

On top of having a representative, there is also a civil servant from the ODM the leads the interview, a translator and a minute writer. The asylum seeker can also be accompanied by legal representative or an accompanist. All non accompanied minors are attributed a guardian or a trustee that is present at the interview. They are not the legal guardians but make sure the procedure is fair.

During the interview the asylum seekers must go into the details of their request for asylum. Proof (police convocations, tribunal judgements, medical certificates, photos, press articles, etc…) must be presented to the authorities. The person leading the interview asks questions to clarify certain points. The minutes of the asylum seeker’s statement are taken. The asylum seeker then approves the statement by signing it. The representatives of the charitable organizations also confirm their presence. All the participants are obligated to keep the asylum seekers information secret. Nothing that is said by the asylum seeker can be communicated to the authorities of the asylum seekers home country.

Francine, representative of the help organizations

“I am 53 and I live in the Vallée de Joux a little piece of paradise. I used to be house keeper to make ends meet. A friend of mine told me that the Swiss protestant help organization (EPER) was hiring people to take part in interviews with asylum seekers. I had always been interested in refugees and other cultures but I was worried about my lack of legal knowledge. I had never looked at a law book.

I received some basic training and a summary of the law on asylum and I started! My first interview was a woman who had been raped by a group of men and had watched her children die. There was also an African whose whole family had been butchered by rebels. It was hard and it scared me. I didn’t think it would be so hard!

I appreciate it when an interviewer welcomes the asylum seeker and says “make yourself comfortable”.  I think this is the way to start the proceedings and I say so.  A lot of asylum seekers think we are policemen and that the interview will be tough. If we are a little more humane the asylum seeker will be more at ease to tell us what brings him/her to us.

My role is to observe, make sure the asylum seeker is at ease and that the interviewer is not putting to much pressure on the person and making them say thinks they did not want to. I can intervene but I have to be very diplomatic. At the break I try to speak with the interviewer but carefully because I don’t want to make them angry otherwise it’s finished.

I can disagree with an interviewer if I believe that among the lies there is some truth, a proof of persecution. I point that out. It is essential to take a moment and discuss it calmly. We also play a neutral role if there is a conflict between the interviewer and the asylum seeker or the translator. It’s not always easy.

Sometimes when an asylum seeker has been tortured and they show their wounds I think “we really are privileged”. Sometimes they have difficulty talking about the things that have happened to them, they are still in shock and they start to cry, that’s where we come in. We have the possibility to appease them, put a hand on their shoulder and let them know we are with them.

I take a walk and breathe. There is a sort of guilt. It happened to them not to me. We are really lucky. The asylum situation has become much tougher. There used to be a clause for people in profound distress. It could be for asylum seekers that were traumatised by the loss of their family or rape and torture. Many people who come to us can’t take any more; need medical attention or a temporary entry to have a breather. They want to be respected and not judged. However this clause no longer exists and that’s a shame.”

"After an interview it takes me a while to get back to normal."