A delegation of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) visited Liechtenstein from 8 to 10 March 2023 as the first step in the preparation of a monitoring report. The visit was preceded by online meetings on 27 February 2023. During the visit, ECRI’s delegation gathered information on effective equality and access to rights; hate speech and hate-motivated violence; and integration and inclusion.

The delegation held meetings with representatives of the national government, the Parliament, the equality body (Association for Human Rights) and the civil society. In Vaduz, the members of the delegation further visited a primary school and the NGO Refugee Aid, which is responsible for the accommodation and care of applicants for international protection. 

Following this visit, ECRI is to adopt a report by the end of 2023, in which it will make a new set of recommendations on measures to be taken by the authorities to address racism and intolerance in the country. The implementation of two priority recommendations will be reviewed in two years’ time after publication of the report as part of ECRI’s interim follow-up procedure.

In its 2018 report, ECRI highlighted, among other issues, the need to enact comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation. It also recommended that the authorities commission a study about the problems that the different groups of migrants face and develop a new strategy and action plan on the integration of migrants and people with migration backgrounds in all areas of life. 

For more information on previous ECRI reports on Liechtenstein, please visit ECRI’s country monitoring page.