The Government fully respects human rights, and there were no major human rights problems. However, there continue to be instances of violence against foreigners and lingering concerns over minor violence against foreigners in police custody. In 1994 an independent government inquiry cleared police of similar allegations. The implementation of a new law against asylum seekers who are suspected of committing a crime has led to charges of unjustified detention or incarceration. However, the federal court has overturned police and lower court actions deemed in violation of the new law.
Some laws still tend to discriminate against women.
However, amendments to the law on gender equality were to have come into force in January 1996. The Government is taking serious steps to address violence against women. There were no reports of political or other extrajudicial killings. On November 13, Egyptian diplomat Ahmed Alaa Nazmi was shot and killed in Geneva. There were no reports of politically motivated disappearances.