Act on the Integration of Foreigners and the Prevention of Racism (LIEPR) - Objective (LIEPR)

1. The purpose of this Act is to promote

- the integration of foreign nationals;

- the prevention of all forms of racism;

- harmonious relations and mutual understanding between Swiss citizens and foreign nationals.

1. Integration implies, on one hand, the willingness of foreigners to integrate into the host society by respecting the values that underpin the rule of law and learning French, and on the other hand, the willingness of that society to facilitate this integration.

2. The prevention of racism arises from the condemnation of acts, propaganda, justifications, and encouragements inspired by ideas or theories based on the superiority of a race or a group of persons of a certain color, national or ethnic origin; it involves the willingness to combat, particularly in the fields of teaching, education, work, culture, and information, the prejudices leading to racial discrimination and to promote understanding and tolerance among all members of society.

1. For the purposes of this Act, the following definitions apply

- integration: any action aimed at promoting equal opportunities for access to social benefits, economic resources, and cultural life, the participation of foreign nationals in public life, and mutual understanding between Swiss nationals and foreign nationals;

- prevention of racism: efforts to prevent racial discrimination as defined by the International Convention of 21 December 1965 on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination [B].

1. The provisions of the present law relating to integration are addressed to foreigners holding a residence permit.

2. The provisions of the present law, insofar as they aim at preventing racism, concern any person living on the territory of the canton, regardless of their nationality and irrespective of the existence of a residence permit.

1. To implement its integration and racism prevention policy, the Council of State relies on the following bodies

- the cantonal coordinator for the integration of foreigners and the prevention of racism (hereinafter: the coordinator);

- the cantonal consultative chamber for immigrants (hereinafter: the chamber).

1. The Council of State determines the guidelines and sets the priorities regarding the integration of foreigners and the prevention of racism.

1. The coordinator is responsible for achieving the objectives of the law and implements the policy of the Council of State regarding the integration of foreign nationals and the prevention of racism.

2. Their tasks notably include

- ensuring the coherence of state action, interdepartmental collaboration, and coordination in matters of foreign national integration and racism prevention;

- proposing actions that promote the integration of foreign nationals and the prevention of racism;

- ensuring the link between the state, foreign communities, and associations active in the field of integration and racism prevention;

- raising awareness among administration members who are in contact with the migrant population regarding the cultural plurality of society;

- collaborating with municipalities on matters of foreign national integration and racism prevention;

- serving as the cantonal contact point for federal authorities regarding foreign national integration and racism prevention;

- submitting an annual report and an evaluation of undertaken actions to the Council of State.

1. The Cantonal Consultative Chamber for Immigrants is responsible for

- establishing a forum for exchange, dialogue, and information between foreign persons, authorities, and Swiss citizens;

- studying and documenting the issues surrounding the integration of foreign nationals in the canton;

- formulating proposals to the State Council concerning the integration of foreign nationals in the canton;

- submitting an annual report of its activities to the State Council, particularly containing its recommendations on the integration of foreign nationals;

- taking a position on draft legislative or regulatory amendments affecting the integration of foreign nationals in the canton;

- fostering ties with and among municipal consultative commissions.

2. It may organize meetings to provide information on issues concerning foreign nationals and to facilitate exchanges between foreign and Swiss persons.

1. The Council of State establishes the organization and functioning of the chamber, in consultation with the chamber itself.

2. The members of the chamber, as well as its president, are appointed by the Council of State. Regulations establish the criteria for appointment [C].

3. The State provides a secretariat for the chamber.

1. The financial resources available to the chamber for its operation are determined annually by the State budget.

2. The members of the chamber who do not represent a department or a service of the State receive an attendance allowance for their participation in the chamber's sessions and the working groups it establishes.

3. The amount of allowances due to the president of the chamber for his work is determined by a regulation adopted by the Council of State [C].

1. In its policy to prevent racism, the Council of State collaborates with the associations active in this field.

1. Cantonal and municipal authorities provide foreigners with adequate information regarding living conditions in the canton, their rights and obligations, and the range of integration services available.

1. Municipal and cantonal authorities collaborate in matters of integration of foreigners and prevention of racism.

2. To facilitate collaboration, each municipality appoints a representative to the coordinator for issues related to the integration of foreigners and the prevention of racism. Several municipalities may agree to appoint a common representative. In the absence of designation by the municipalities, the representative shall be the mayor.

1. The State may grant subsidies for activities promoting the integration of foreigners and the prevention of racism.

1. The activities eligible for a subsidy are as follows

a. improving the general education level of foreign nationals and promoting their learning of French;

b. encouraging projects aimed at integration into the professional world;

c. promoting initiatives and projects that take into account the specific integration needs of women, children, and adolescents;

d. maintaining the links that foreign nationals have with their language and culture;

e. establishing a coherent information policy for and about the foreign national population living in the Canton of Vaud;

f. promoting intercultural dialogue and active participation of the foreign national population;

g. supporting measures serving to promote and improve the health of the foreign national population;

h. training and further developing individuals active in intercultural exchanges (cultural mediators);

i. coordinating specific integration measures;

j. creating and ensuring the operation of assistance services for foreign nationals primarily dedicated to coordination, communication, and information;

k. supporting scientific research in the field of integration;

l. promoting projects for the prevention of violence and delinquency;

m. preventing racism, antisemitism, and xenophobia;

n. supporting victims of discrimination and racist, antisemitic, and xenophobic acts;

o. preventing community withdrawal and the creation of ghettos.

2. The State Council shall, by regulation [C], set the conditions for granting subsidies.

3. The granting of subsidies based on other legal grounds is not subject to the conditions and procedures provided for by the present law.

1. The head of the department to which the coordinator is attached is competent to grant subsidies.

1. Subsidies are granted on the basis of decisions or agreements.

1. The grant is awarded based on a detailed budget of the recipient's activity.

2. The agreement or decision granting the subsidy sets forth the objectives of awarding the grant and the activities for which it will be used.

3. The grant is awarded for a maximum period of three years. It may be renewed.

1. The beneficiary shall submit an annual report each year detailing precisely how the grant has been used.

2. The coordinator shall ensure that it has been used in accordance with the agreed or decided allocation and that the conditions and obligations to which it is subject have been respected by the beneficiary.

3. The latter must provide all relevant information for this purpose.

1. Non-compliance by the beneficiary with the conditions set forth in the agreement or decision may lead to the obligation to repay all or part of the subsidy and to its revocation.

1. The Council of State is responsible for the execution of the present law. It shall publish the text in accordance with Article 84, paragraph 1, letter a) of the Cantonal Constitution and shall determine, by way of decree, the date of its entry into force.