Our mission and vision
APDH, an NGO dedicated to civic equality and the inclusion of migrants, works for protection, information and empowerment through concrete actions and a deep commitment to human rights.
Legal identity
The APDH is a non-governmental organization (NGO), created in 2008, governed by articles 60 et seq. of the Swiss Civil Code, non-profit, secular, religiously neutral and independent of any economic organization or political institution.
It is registered at the International Geneva Reception Center (CAGI). The ADPH has been recognized as being of public utility and exempt from taxes since 2011.
It is supported by grants from the Canton and the City of Geneva as well as various public and private institutions and foundations.
Our missions
- Promote inclusion and equality through information in the original language on rights and duties in order to prevent discrimination and increase the chances of integration of migrants into society.
- Protect and defend migrants through legal support.
- Strengthen the capacities of migrants through workshops on human rights in their original language to enable them to access equal citizenship, with particular emphasis on women's issues and sexual minorities.
- Raise awareness among relevant stakeholders about constructive dialogue through intercultural mediation between migrant people, institutions and other stakeholders in order to strengthen exchanges and find peaceful solutions.
- Collaborate with different local, national and international actors to generate new thoughts and actions aimed at better protecting migrants by sharing and exchanging our different expertise.
Our values and principles
The APDH is an independent non-governmental organization guided by strong values and beliefs which constitute the basis of its identity and its work:
- Commitment: We are convinced that the promotion of human rights is essential to protecting the human dignity of migrants, as well as to building a peaceful and inclusive society.
- Inclusion and equality: We place non-discrimination at the center of our mission and promote diversity and inclusion in our work as well as kindness and empathy.
- Empowerment: We build each other’s capabilities, ensuring we do not create dependency on our advice and support.
- Integrity and transparency: We work impartially and independently. No political, economic or religious trend influences our actions. We are open and accountable to our partners, supporters and beneficiaries about what we do and how we do it.
- Partnerships: We engage and collaborate with a plurality of stakeholders in order to develop strategies to protect the dignity of migrants.
- Quality, perseverance and creativity: We aim for excellence in the search for solutions to promote human rights among our target audience and in demonstrating the added value of education for civic equality. We recognize that this work requires a long-term vision and we commit our efforts accordingly to be more creative.
