In response to mass suicides in Switzerland in 1994 and in France in 1995, the Government established a commission to create a policy to combat the alleged dangers that sects may represent to society, especially children. The law provides for these rights, and the Government respects them in practice. The Government cooperates with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other humanitarian organizations in assisting refugees. The Government provides first asylum and provided it to 12,232 applicants in 1996, an increase of 7 percent over the 1995 number of applicants. A total of 1,588 applicants, mostly from previous years, were granted permanent status in 1996.
All asylum seekers can plead their cases before immigration authorities.
Many of these individuals have since received permanent status. As a result of a 1996 amendment to existing immigration law, asylum seekers arriving by air with no papers may be detained indefinitely in closed centers while awaiting consideration of their cases. Children in such centers do not attend school. Pursuant to the 1996 amendment to immigration law, asylum seekers awaiting consideration of their cases will no longer qualify for financial assistance but will be provided room and board at refugee centers. The law provides citizens with the right to change their government peacefully.