The Swiss Confederation is a federal democracy. The President is head of state, while the Prime Minister heads the executive branch and is leader of the legislature. The Cabinet is elected by the bicameral Federal Assembly from among its members for a 4-year term. 2003 elections, held on the basis of universal suffrage, were deemed free and fair. The coalition government is made up of the 4 major political parties. Constitutional change requires a referendum, and any law, or any change in a law, can be challenged by referendum. There are 65 women in the 246-seat Federal Assembly and 1 woman in the 7-seat Cabinet. At the cantonal level women hold about 24% of seats. There are 57 French-speaking and 10 Italian-speaking members in both houses and 3 French-speaking members in the Cabinet. No ethnic minorities were elected to government. The judiciary is independent in law and in practice.

Discrimination is prohibited on the basis of race, gender, disability, language or social status, and the legislation is enforced, though some minorities claim discrimination.

Police are accused of using excessive force in arrest and detention. Amnesty International reports police mistreatment of foreigners and asylum-seekers.

Freedom of speech and of the press are guaranteed. Internet access is not restricted, and access to government information is provided through a transparency law.

Switzerland is a destination and transit country for women trafficked for sexual exploitation and domestic servitude. Police are investigating a worldwide Internet child pornography ring operating in 19 cantons.

Anti-Semitic incidents are reported. A day of remembrance for victims of the Holocaust and other genocides of the past century is held in schools to raise awareness of inhumane ideologies.

Most cantons financially support some religious denominations with funds collected through taxation, but there is no state religion.

Education is free and compulsory for 9 years, and some cantons offer a tenth free school year. Almost all children attend school; some 60% complete vocational or technical training; 30 % earn higher-level university degrees. Religious education is taught in most public schools, except in Geneva and Neuchatel. Roman Catholic and Protestant instruction are standard, but some schools include other religious education. Some cantons have adopted non-confessional teaching on religion and culture.

Physical punishment of children is not illegal, and a study by Fribourg University indicates a large number of children are struck by their parents.

A 2-year programme begins at age 5. At this level 7% of education is private. The Net Enrolment Rate (NER) is 72%.

Education is compulsory from age 6 or 7 to age 15 or 16 years depending on the canton. Primary school begins at age 7 and continues for 6 years. At this level 5% of education is private. The NER is 99% (49% female). Of students who enrol in Grade 1, 96% reach the last grade of primary school. 2% of students repeat grades. There are 69,256 primary teachers (80% female). The PTR is 11 : 1.

Secondary education begins at age 17 and is completed in 7 years. At this level 7% of education is private. 65% of students in upper secondary education study in technical vocational programmes. The NER is 83%. 2% of students repeat grades.

195,947 students (45% female) study in tertiary institutions, for a Gross Enrolment Rate of 47%. At this level 21% of education is private. Foreign students studying in Switzerland come from North America and Western Europe (15,369), Central and Eastern Europe (3,525), Asia (1,864), Latin America and the Caribbean (1,575), Sub-Saharan Africa (1,315) and the Arab States (1,272). At the same time, 9,545 Swiss students are studying abroad, mainly in Germany (2,169), the USA (1,561), the UK (1,467), France (1,463) and Italy (1,075).

The law prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities in education or in other state services. Cantons are responsible for the education of disabled children; children capable of following the curriculum are integrated into primary and secondary schools. Special classes in mainstream schools provide support, counselling and therapy. Disabled children can be cared for and educated at special needs schools within the responsibility of the cantons.

The law provides for the granting of asylum or refugee status in accordance with the 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, and the government has established a system for providing protection to refugees. The government cooperates with the UNHCR to assist refugees and asylum-seekers. Swiss voters rejected proposals to make it easier for young second-generation immigrants to get Swiss citizenship.

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) notes that Swiss schools accept all pupils without making enquiries into the status of their parents. Children of asylum-seekers are admitted to Swiss schools and attend language lessons. ECRI is concerned that recent initiatives in a few Swiss schools instigate segregated schooling for children who do not have sufficient knowledge of the official language of instruction. With some public debate favouring such measures, ECRI stresses that moves towards segregated schooling are contrary to international law.

Switzerland has 4 official languages: German (spoken by 74% of the population), French (19%), Italian (7%) and Romansh (less than 1%). The federal government communicates in all 4 official languages. 21% of the population is made up of resident foreigners and temporary foreign workers, mostly from European Union countries. Refugees from the former Yugoslavia constitute 5% and Turks 1% of the resident foreigners. The government rejected ratification of the ILO Convention 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples but acknowledged the need for permanent and transit stopping places for Travellers (itinerant clans). There were a few reported cases of violent confrontations between skinheads and young foreigners.

Reports do not cite any restrictions or violations of academic freedom.

Women have equal rights in law with men. Some legislation is discriminatory in its application, since it applies more frequently to women than to men. A Federal Tribunal has ruled that, in the case of a divorce, support payments must not reduce a primary wage earner below the poverty level. Since men are usually the primary wage earners, if a divorcing man's salary is low, the increased expenses of separate living will force the divorcing wife and any children onto public assistance.

A 2004 government study showed that, on average, women's gross salaries were 21% lower than men's. Women are more likely to be unemployed than men, and the unemployment rate is especially high for mothers with children under age 6 because Switzerland, in keeping with its low-tax / low-benefits policy, lacks the social support systems that help mothers leave home to work, such as school cafeterias and child care before and after school hours. Restrictions on wearing a hijab in the workplace exist in some companies.

Sexual harassment is illegal and is reported as infrequent. Violence against women is reported as problematic. Domestic violence is illegal, and prosecuting spousal abuse is a cantonal responsibility. UNICEF and Bern University report that about 6,000 women and young girls are at risk of female genital mutilation, which is illegal.

The minimum age for full-time employment is 15. Children over 13 may be employed in light duties for up to 9 hours a week during the school year and 15 hours a week in vacations. Employment is regulated for youth aged 15 to 20; for example, night work or work in hazardous or dangerous conditions is not permitted. These laws and policies are enforced.

Workers have the right to form and join trade unions, and about 25% of the work force is unionised. The Swiss Trade Union Council filed a complaint with the ILO on abusive dismissals, charging that legislation does not protect union activists from discrimination. The ILO called on the government to examine the law and practice. Collective bargaining is permitted, and some 50% of the work force is covered by collective contracts negotiated by the unions. The right to strike is guaranteed. Strikes by public servants can be curtailed for reasons of national security or of safeguarding foreign policy interests. Some cantons deny public servants the right to strike.

Forced or compulsory labour is illegal, but victims of trafficking are reported to work under such conditions. There is no national minimum wage, though collective contracts have minimum compensation requirements. The maximum work week is 45 hours in industry, services and retail trades and 50 hours for other workers.