Our aims
A powerful 'lobby' and a modern service centre
The OSA has three main objectives :
- To efficiently represent the general interests of Swiss citizens living abroad before the Swiss authorities and with the public at home.
- To promote good relations between Swiss living abroad and strengthen their ties with Switzerland.
- To provide a wide, up-to-date range of specialised services.
The OSA is strongly committed to improving the legal status of Swiss citizens living abroad. Its most significant achievements have been firmly rooting the Fifth Switzerland in the Federal Constitution in 1966 (article 40 of the new Constitution) and the introduction of the right to vote by mail in federal matters in 1992. It has successfully opposed the dismantling of optional old-age and disablement insurance (AVS/AI) on several occasions. More recently it has been instrumental in improving civil rights legislation in the field of health insurance as well as in promoting training for young Swiss abroad.
The increasing impact of information
One of the OSA's major concerns is to provide a first-class information service to Swiss expatriates. This became even more vital with the introduction of the right to vote by mail. The "Swiss Review" magazine, published by the OSA together with the Confederation, is sent to all Swiss adults registered at a Swiss mission abroad. Published in five languages (German, French, Italian, English and Spanish) with a circulation of 391,000 copies, it is one of Switzerland's largest journals.
Four to six times a year Swiss associations and institutions abroad receive the "OSA Info" newsletter. The Organisation also works with swissinfo and is building up its site on the Internet.
A broad range of services
With its staff of 24, the Secretariat for the Swiss Abroad in Bern, the OSA's administration team, is a modern service centre with a wide variety of specialised services available to all Swiss expatriates. Information, details and advice on legal questions, social security insurance and training matters as well as holiday camps, sports activities and numerous other offers for young Swiss abroad and particulars about the 17 federally approved Swiss schools abroad.
Every year several hundred Swiss living all over the world meet at the OSA's Swiss Abroad Congresses. As well as giving members the opportunity to share their views on topical subjects, these conferences also strengthen bonds between expatriates and facilitate contacts with the Swiss authorities and the public back home.
