Privacy policy

1. General information on data protection

The following privacy policy provides you with full information about the use, storage and administration of personal and non-personal data.

Our online offering can be used without providing personal data such as name, address or email address. We only process your personal data if you give us your explicit consent. This means we treat your data confidentially and in accordance with the current statutory data protection regulations of the EU (GDPR) and Switzerland (FADP) as well as this privacy policy.

Responsible for data processing

Swiss Refugee Council

Weyermannsstrasse 10

3001 Bern

Telephone: +41 31 370 75 75

Email: info@fluechtlingshilfe.ch

You can contact our data protection officer at the above postal address, with the addition “To the Data Protection Officer” or at the email address info@fluechtlingshilfe.ch with the subject line “Data protection.”

2. Information about user data and modification and deletion thereof

You can request information about the data we have stored about you at any time and/or have them changed or erased. The only exception is data that are necessary for the performance of a contract or the implementation of pre-contractual measures. In this case, premature erasure of the data is only possible if there are no contractual or statutory obligations preventing erasure.

If you would like information about your data, wish to have your data changed or no longer wish to be contacted by the SRC, please contact info@fluechtlingshilfe.ch with the subject line “Data protection” or by post with the addition “To the data protection officer” at:

Swiss Refugee Council  

Weyermannsstrasse 10

3001 Bern

Telephone: +41 31 370 75 75

Email: info@fluechtlingshilfe.ch

3. Principle, purpose and scope of the processing of personal data

We only process the personal data of our users where this is necessary to provide a functional website and our content and services. The personal data of our users are processed regularly with the consent of the users.

4. Creation of log files

You can visit our website without having to provide any personal information.

However, every time our website is accessed, our system automatically collects data and information from the system of the accessing computer.

The following data are collected and stored in a log file:

1. Path of the page accessed within our website
2. Information about the browser type and version used
3. The user’s operating system
4. The user’s IP address
5. Date and time of access
6. If a page visitor arrives at our website by clicking on a link, the URL of the website on which the link was placed is also stored (the referrer address).

These data cannot be assigned to a specific person. The log file is automatically deleted after 30 days. The data contained therein are not evaluated automatically in any way . They are only used to detect and correct errors on the website in the event of a problem.

Saving log files is absolutely necessary for the operation of the website. It is not possible to object to saving them.

5. Use of cookies

Our website does not use its own cookies. However, we use Google Analytics for statistical analyses. This service itself stores some cookies. Find out more in the following section.

6. Google Analytics

The website uses Google Analytics from Google Inc. (“Google”) as a web analysis service. Anonymised information about the use of this website is transmitted to and stored by Google Analytics every time a page is accessed. This information helps us to better tailor the website to the needs of visitors. As part of this data collection process, Google Analytics stores some cookies in your browser.

You can prevent these data from being collected by using the browser add-on provided by Google:  https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout

This uses JavaScript to inform Google Analytics that no data and information about visits to websites may be transmitted to Google Analytics. Installing the browser add-on is regarded by Google as an objection.

When you visit our website, as a first step you can use the cookie banner to select the scope of the cookies used. Any application is subject to your consent.

7. Newsletter

You can subscribe to a free newsletter on our website. Our newsletter informs you at regular intervals about important developments and our positions on asylum issues, publications, our offerings and other news.

When subscribing to the newsletter, the data (title, surname, first name, email address) from the input screen are transmitted to us.

In addition, the following data are collected when you register:

• Date and time of registration

Your consent to the processing of the data is obtained as part of the double opt-in registration process.

We use Campaign Monitor to send our newsletter. The title, surname, first name and email address from the data stored during registration are transmitted to Campaign Monitor.

The data collected are used solely to send our newsletter.

Users may cancel their subscription to the newsletter at any time. Each newsletter contains a link for this purpose.

Campaign Monitor allows a statistical evaluation of the success of newsletter distribution by means of tracking pixels. The Swiss Refugee Council can use the evaluation to record whether and when an e-mail was opened by a person and which link was clicked on.

These personal data are evaluated by the data controller to optimise the newsletter and better align the content of future newsletters with the interests of subscribers. These personal data will not be passed on to third parties. Data subjects are entitled to revoke the separate declaration of consent given in the double opt-in procedure at any time. Following revocation, these personal data will be erased by the controller.

8. Social media

The social media services we use (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) are linked to our website so you can access our social media via our website if you are interested. The corresponding buttons only exchange data with the respective social media platform if they are clicked and the visitor is logged on to the platform at the time of clicking.

9. Facebook and Instagram ads

We use Facebook and Instagram ads to be able to advertise our offering on Instagram and Facebook in a targeted manner. Facebook and Instagram ads are provided by Facebook Ireland Limited in Ireland and the American company Meta Platforms, Inc. Cookies may also be used. With such advertising, we particularly want to reach people who are interested in our online offering or already using it. For this purpose, we send corresponding information to Facebook (custom audiences, including lookalike audiences), in particular via the Facebook pixel. This may include personal data. We can also determine whether our advertising is successful, i.e. whether it leads to visits to our website (conversion tracking). Find out more in the following section.

10. Facebook pixel

The Facebook pixel is a JavaScript code that is integrated into websites. The Facebook pixel can link the behaviour of people on the website to Facebook user profiles. It collects data that help us optimise adverts, create target groups and track conversions such as booking an educational offering or sending the contact form.

Please note that the Swiss Refugee Council   has no knowledge of the content of the data transmitted or how they are used by Facebook. Further information can be found in Facebook’s privacy policy at https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy.

11. YouTube

This website integrates videos from YouTube. The site is operated by Google Ireland Limited (“Google”), Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland. We use YouTube in advanced data protection mode. According to YouTube, this mode means that YouTube does not store any information about visitors to this website before they watch the video. However, advanced data protection mode does not necessarily rule out the transfer of data to YouTube partners. This is how YouTube connects to the Google DoubleClick network, regardless of whether you are watching a video. As soon as you start a YouTube video on this website, a connection to YouTube’s servers is established. The YouTube server is informed which of our pages you have visited. If you are logged into your YouTube account, you enable YouTube to associate your surfing behaviour directly with your personal profile. You can prevent this by logging out of your YouTube account. YouTube may also store various cookies on your device after starting a video. These cookies allow YouTube to receive information about visitors to the website. This information is used, among other things, to collect video statistics, improve user-friendliness and prevent attempted fraud. The cookies remain on your device until you delete them. In some instances, further data processing operations over which we have no influence may be initiated once a YouTube video has been started.

12. Google Tag Manager

We use Google Tag Manager, a service provided by Google Inc. (“Google”). Google Tag Manager is a service that allows further analysis and marketing services to be integrated into our internet offering (e.g. AdWords conversion tracking, DoubleClick and Google Analytics). Google Tag Manager uses cookies that enable Google and its partner websites to place advertisements on the basis of the visits and interests of users on our and other websites. Google collects user data via a large number of online offerings, but only in pseudonymised form. The information about users collected by DoubleClick is transmitted to Google and stored on Google’s servers in the United States. Further information on the use of data for advertising purposes by Google and on ways to object can be found on the overview page: http://www.google.com/policies/technologies/ads/. You can also use the settings and opt-out options provided by Google and deactivate interest-based advertising. This can be done at http://www.google.com/ads/preferences/ or http://www.google.de/settings/ads/anonymous.

13. Google Ads

We have integrated Google Ads into this website. Google Ads is an internet advertising service that allows advertisers to place ads in Google’s search engine results as well as in the Google advertising network. Google Ads allows an advertiser to define certain keywords in advance so an advertisement is only displayed in Google’s search results if the user uses the search engine to access a result relevant to the keyword. The Google advertising network distributes the advertisements to relevant websites using an automatic algorithm and in accordance with the predefined keywords.

The operator of the Google Ads services is Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland. The purpose of Google Ads is to advertise our website by displaying interest-relevant advertising on the websites of third-party companies and in Google search results.

You have the option of objecting to interest-based advertising by Google. Go to www.google.de/settings/ads from your browser and change the desired settings there.

Further information and Google’s current data protection provisions can be found at https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy.

14. Handling data in connection with purchases, donations, individual membership, establishing contact and booking the Swiss Refugee Councils’s continuing education offering

Through your purchases on this website, individual membership, booking a continuing education offering or making a donation, you are a supporter or client of the SRC and your address will be added to the Swiss Refugee Council database. We treat these customer data in the strictest confidence and do not pass them on to third parties in any way, nor do we rent or sell them. The data are used exclusively for statistical purposes, for sending information or for appeals for donations. Contacts made via the contact form will not be entered into the SRC database unless expressly requested.

15. Handling of data in connection with the host family project

The form for entering the data of an offer within the framework of the host family project was created by Campax. Campax and the SFH handle the entries on the form with great care; only a small team of operators has full access to the relevant data. We only store them for as short a time as possible - until a successful placement has been made. After that, they are archived in encrypted form for legal reasons. Full details of the solutions used to enter and manage the data and how to contact us can be found in Campax's privacy policy. 

16. Handling of data in connection with the Community Building project

In the context of the Community Building project, personal data of persons interested in the project will be collected. This data will be treated confidentially. Within the framework of the project, SFH may share contact details with other interested persons from the same area. Persons interested in the project give their consent to this when entering their data. 

17. Your rights

Below you will find a list of your rights in connection with your data that are processed.

Right to information

You may request confirmation as to whether personal data concerning you are being processed by the Swiss Refugee Council  . If this is the case, you may request specific information about the processing.

Right to rectification

You may request that the personal data concerning you be corrected and/or completed if such data are inaccurate or incomplete.

Right to erasure

You have the right to request the erasure of your personal data. The data will be erased if the corresponding conditions are met.

The right to erasure cannot be granted if the processing is necessary to exercise the right to freedom of expression, to comply with a legal obligation or a task carried out in the public interest, or for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims.

Right to restriction of processing

You may request that the processing of your personal data be restricted if you dispute the accuracy of the data, the processing is unlawful, the data are no longer required or you object.

If the processing of the data is restricted, they may only be stored. Further processing may only take place with your consent, for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims, for the protection of the rights of another person or for reasons of important public interest.

You will be notified if the restriction is lifted.

Right to object

You may object to the processing of your data if it is based on the legal basis of performing a public task or legitimate interests and you are in a special situation.

You may also object if the data are processed for direct marketing purposes. In this case, the corresponding data will no longer be used for this purpose.

Right to data portability

You have the right to receive the personal data concerning you based on consent, on a contract or on processing by automated means in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable form and to transmit these data to a third party.

If technically feasible, you may request direct transmission. The rights and freedoms of others must not be affected by this.

You may also request that your inaccurate personal data are corrected.

Right to revocation of the data protection declaration of consent

You may withdraw your consent to the processing of your personal data at any time. Lawful processing up to the time of revocation is not affected by this.