Switzerland as a Safe Haven? Discussing the everyday experiences of refugees

Based on the findings from a research project that explores the everyday lives of refugees, we invite persons living in Switzerland as recognised refugees to join us for an open and critical exchange.

18.01.2025, 10am–2pm – Bern University of Applied Sciences, Schwarztorstrasse 48, 3007 Berne

This workshop addresses persons who live in Switzerland as recognised refugees from different countries of origin. We seek to first present key outcomes of the research project "Violent Safe Havens? Articulations and Repercussions of Violence in Refugee Reception and Settlement". Participants will then have the opportunity to exchange views with the researchers and provide feedback on the project and its outcomes.

Since spring 2020, Carolin Fischer and Manuel Insberg have been examining the question of how far-reaching protection through asylum is and what limits it. Does asylum enable those affected to return to a sense of normality, to a subjectively fulfilling everyday life worth living? Is asylum synonymous with freedom from violence? To answer these questions, the researchers conducted ethnographic studies in Norway and Switzerland over a period of one and a half years. The results of this research provide complex insights into the interplay between protection and violence in the everyday lives of people living with refugee status in both countries.

In this workshop, the research findings will be shared and discussed with persons who have been granted asylum in Switzerland and who are the primary focus of the project.

The workshop lasts half a day. Travel expenses for participants will be covered and everybody is invited to join us for lunch at the end of the workshop. The results of the workshop will be documented and made available to the participants.

Key Visual Schutzraum Schweiz

Factsheet

  • Start date 18.01.2025, 10am–2pm
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  • Place Bern University of Applied Sciences, Schwarztorstrasse 48, 3007 Berne
  • Status The number of participants is limited to a maximum of 25 people.
  • Costs The event is free of charge.
Time Programme
9:30 a.m. Arrival of the participants, welcome coffee
10:00 a.m. Official welcome
10:15 a.m. Presentation / Insight into research results from Norway and Switzerland
11:00 a.m. Exchange with the participants
12:30 
p.m.
Conclusion and outlook
1:00 p.m.  joint lunch

In this workshop, the project managers share and discuss their research findings with the group of people affected by asylum and who are the primary focus of the project.  

The participants are given the opportunity to tell the project managers how they perceive the approach and the results of the project, to what extent the results correspond to their own experiences and what specific need for action they derive from them.  

The findings from the dialogue are incorporated into the research project. Among other things, those responsible for the project derive the need for and the impetus and relevant approaches for scientific follow-up projects. 

People who live in Switzerland as refugees.

  • Dr Carolin Fischer, project manager of the research project «Articulations and Repercussions of Violence in Refugee Reception and Settlement», Bern University of Applied Sciences BFH 
  • Manuel Insberg, PhD student and project team member «Articulations and Repercussions of Violence in Refugee Reception and Settlement», Bern University of Applied Sciences BFH   

The event is funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF).