Shut out and locked away: how and why?

The mission of the Independent Expert Commission (IEC) on Administrative Detention is to investigate and document the use of administrative detention in Switzerland up to the year 1981. What were the social structures, processes and mechanisms that led to the treatment of juveniles and of adults – both men and women – in this way? On what laws did the cantons base their use of administrative detention, and how were those laws applied? Which groups of people were most often subject to such treatment and what was it like for them to be locked away, often for years at a time? Which public authorities and institutions were involved? How do the people who were subjected to those compulsory measures deal today with what they experienced?

 

This website is designed to accompany the work of the IEC and to facilitate dissemination of the Commission’s findings to a broader public.

 

Information about the IEC
Final Report & recommendations
The final report, entitled «Mechanics of Arbitrariness», includes a synthesis of the results of the research work carried out by the IEC, the contributions of 14 witnesses of the times and the recommendations issued by the IEC. The final report is available in print and in electronic format in German, French, Italian and English. The recommendations are also gathered in a separate brochure.
Go to the Final Report
Research & publications
The IEC’s research work culminates in the publication of ten volumes: a volume with portraits of victims, a volume dedicated to the dissemination of the work of the IEC, six volumes containing the research work, a book dedicated to the sources as well as a final report for the attention of the Federal Council. The publications are available as printed books or as free e-books on this website.
Go to the publications
Documentary
How is it possible to explain administrative detention and how can people deal with this past today? What meaning does the rehabilitation of victims have? These are the questions at the heart of the discussions in the IEC’s documentary «Discussions with experts. Administrative detention and paths to rehabilitation»
Go to the documentary
Final Report & recommendations
The final report, entitled «Mechanics of Arbitrariness», includes a synthesis of the results of the research work carried out by the IEC, the contributions of 14 witnesses of the times and the recommendations issued by the IEC. The final report is available in print and in electronic format in German, French, Italian and English. The recommendations are also gathered in a separate brochure.
Go to the Final Report
Research & publications
The IEC’s research work culminates in the publication of ten volumes: a volume with portraits of victims, a volume dedicated to the dissemination of the work of the IEC, six volumes containing the research work, a book dedicated to the sources as well as a final report for the attention of the Federal Council. The publications are available as printed books or as free e-books on this website.
Go to the publications
Documentary
How is it possible to explain administrative detention and how can people deal with this past today? What meaning does the rehabilitation of victims have? These are the questions at the heart of the discussions in the IEC’s documentary «Discussions with experts. Administrative detention and paths to rehabilitation»
Go to the documentary
Go to agenda & news
v
<
 

Exhibition & events

 

The IEC on tour

At the end of its research activity, the IEC is going to inform the Swiss public about the topic of administrative detention in a touring exhibition tent. At the same time, it is going to organise in different locations events that deal with single topics.

More information
<
 

Sources

 

What are the sources of information that IEC researchers work with?

Sources are the raw material of scholarly research. What sources on the history of administrative detention have been preserved? How do researchers use those sources? To what questions can the sources provide answers?

Learn more
v
<
 

Research 

 

Which research topics did the IEC deal with?

In 2019 the IEC is publishing the findings of its research activity in ten volumes. The research design, various intermediate analyses and interactive visualisations of the topography of Swiss institutions show the single steps of this research work.

Go to the publications
v
<
 

Context

 

The IEC sees itself as part of a broader network for research into the history of the use of compulsory measures and foster care as instruments of social welfare.

Go to related projects
 
v
<
 

Encounters & projects

 

The IEC in dialogue

In addition to conducting its own independent research, the IEC also seeks encounters outside the world of academia through various media and communications projects.

 

Go to encounters
v
The IEC concluded its activity at the end of 2019.

The website shows the work carried out by the Independent Expert Commission (IEC) on Administrative Detention up to the end of 2019 and will not be further updated.

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Shut out and locked away: how and why?

The mission of the Independent Expert Commission (IEC) on Administrative Detention is to investigate and document the use of administrative detention in Switzerland up to the year 1981. What were the social structures, processes and mechanisms that led to the treatment of juveniles and of adults – both men and women – in this way? On what laws did the cantons base their use of administrative detention, and how were those laws applied? Which groups of people were most often subject to such treatment and what was it like for them to be locked away, often for years at a time? Which public authorities and institutions were involved? How do the people who were subjected to those compulsory measures deal today with what they experienced?

 

This website is designed to accompany the work of the IEC and to facilitate dissemination of the Commission’s findings to a broader public.

 

Information about the IEC
Final Report & recommendations
The final report, entitled «Mechanics of Arbitrariness», includes a synthesis of the results of the research work carried out by the IEC, the contributions of 14 witnesses of the times and the recommendations issued by the IEC. The final report is available in print and in electronic format in German, French, Italian and English. The recommendations are also gathered in a separate brochure.
Go to the Final Report
Research & publications
The IEC’s research work culminates in the publication of ten volumes: a volume with portraits of victims, a volume dedicated to the dissemination of the work of the IEC, six volumes containing the research work, a book dedicated to the sources as well as a final report for the attention of the Federal Council. The publications are available as printed books or as free e-books on this website.
Go to the publications
Documentary
How is it possible to explain administrative detention and how can people deal with this past today? What meaning does the rehabilitation of victims have? These are the questions at the heart of the discussions in the IEC’s documentary «Discussions with experts. Administrative detention and paths to rehabilitation»
Go to the documentary
Final Report & recommendations
The final report, entitled «Mechanics of Arbitrariness», includes a synthesis of the results of the research work carried out by the IEC, the contributions of 14 witnesses of the times and the recommendations issued by the IEC. The final report is available in print and in electronic format in German, French, Italian and English. The recommendations are also gathered in a separate brochure.
Go to the Final Report
Research & publications
The IEC’s research work culminates in the publication of ten volumes: a volume with portraits of victims, a volume dedicated to the dissemination of the work of the IEC, six volumes containing the research work, a book dedicated to the sources as well as a final report for the attention of the Federal Council. The publications are available as printed books or as free e-books on this website.
Go to the publications
Documentary
How is it possible to explain administrative detention and how can people deal with this past today? What meaning does the rehabilitation of victims have? These are the questions at the heart of the discussions in the IEC’s documentary «Discussions with experts. Administrative detention and paths to rehabilitation»
Go to the documentary
Go to agenda & news
v
<
 

Exhibition & events

 

The IEC on tour

At the end of its research activity, the IEC is going to inform the Swiss public about the topic of administrative detention in a touring exhibition tent. At the same time, it is going to organise in different locations events that deal with single topics.

More information
<
 

Sources

 

What are the sources of information that IEC researchers work with?

Sources are the raw material of scholarly research. What sources on the history of administrative detention have been preserved? How do researchers use those sources? To what questions can the sources provide answers?

Learn more
v
<
 

Research 

 

Which research topics did the IEC deal with?

In 2019 the IEC is publishing the findings of its research activity in ten volumes. The research design, various intermediate analyses and interactive visualisations of the topography of Swiss institutions show the single steps of this research work.

Go to the publications
v
<
 

Context

 

The IEC sees itself as part of a broader network for research into the history of the use of compulsory measures and foster care as instruments of social welfare.

Go to related projects
 
v
<
 

Encounters & projects

 

The IEC in dialogue

In addition to conducting its own independent research, the IEC also seeks encounters outside the world of academia through various media and communications projects.

 

Go to encounters
^