Research

We focus on legal and political issues of equality and discrimination law in the broadest sense. The basis for our activities is Art. 8 (2) of the Swiss Federal Constitution, the non-discrimination clause, which stipulates that no person may be discriminated against on the grounds of origin, race, gender, age, language, social position, lifestyle, religious, philosophical, or political conviction, or because of any physical, mental or psychological disability.

With the introduction of a non-discrimination clause to the Swiss Federal Constitution, Switzerland has ratified a catalogue of discrimination criteria that is the subject of numerous human rights conventions.
 
As an independent legal discipline, discrimination and equality law is still relatively new to Switzerland. On the other hand, it permeates every aspect of our law. Special attention is also paid to the development of discrimination law in the European Union, which is becoming increasingly more important.
 
Our research projects are financed by money contributed by the Swiss National Science Foundation for the promotion of scientific research, or by other public funding institutes. We are also commissioned by political or public management bodies, or by the private sector, to conduct research on their behalf.

Contact:
Prof (FH) Dr. iur. Kurt Pärli
Tel.: 0041 58 934 70 18
E-mail kurt.paerli(at)zhaw.ch