ABOUT ASYLEX

AsyLex is a non-profit association based in Switzerland that aims to support asylum seekers in their legal proceedings through legal advice. We are an independent non-governmental organization that is politically and religiously neutral. Our goal is to provide free legal counseling and representation to refugees in Switzerland, regardless of their origin, religion, age, gender, gender identity, family or financial situation, and regardless of their chances of success. We believe that every person has the right to a basic understanding of the asylum process and a fair hearing. For this reason, AsyLex works to ensure that every asylum seeker in Switzerland understands the fundamentals of the asylum procedure, knows the criteria for granting asylum, and has access to legal advice at all times.

Our team now consists of over 150 volunteers with diverse backgrounds in law, translation, legal tech and IT, political science and international relations, social work, finance, and other specializations. They are the ones who provide the majority of the services and keep the organization running. The majority of our volunteers live in Switzerland, but we also have small teams in Italy, Greece, and Lebanon, as well as individual team members in around 15 other countries around the world. We are proud that our team consists of a variety of backgrounds and nationalities, and that all members identify with our goal of protecting the rights of asylum seekers. Our work is supported by the AsyLex Advisory Council, the AsyLex Committee, and the AsyLex Board, which consist of dedicated experts and representatives from the business and civil society. We are always striving to expand our team and are looking for new volunteers who want to advocate for the rights of asylum seekers.

Contact

ASYLEX ADVISORY COUNCIL

AsyLex is supported by various experts in the field of migration and asylum. Through the valuable support of these professionals, our volunteers always have the possibility to consult with an expert on difficult questions or cases.

DR. IUR. FANNY DE WECK

Expert on Migration Law and International Human Rights Protection

Dr. iur. Fanny de Weck is a lawyer focusing on migration and criminal law working in Zurich. She has worked at the International Human Rights Unit at the Federal Office of Justice in Bern. In this context, she gained considerable experience regarding individual complaints procedures before the European Court of Human Rights and the UN Human Rights Committees in Geneva.

CURTIS F. J. DOEBBLER

Expert on International Proceedings regarding Refugee Protection

Curtis Doebbler, an international human rights lawyer, has represented clients before global human rights bodies since 1988. He's advised several governments, including the Palestinian National Authority, and represented many refugees and displaced persons in Africa. Curtis has authored "United Kingdom Asylum Law in its European Context" and is presently an attorney at Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES), the biggest representative of US asylum seekers, while on partial leave from the University of Makeni (Sierra Leone).

PROF. DR. IUR. FRANCESCO MAIANI

Expert on the Dublin III Regulation

Prof. Dr. iur. Francesco Maiani is associate professor of European Law at the University of Lausanne. He mainly focuses on the law of European integration, international human rights and refugee law, as well as EU migration law and policies. As an expert on the Dublin Regulation, Prof. Maiani wrote a report on the reform of the Dublin III Regulation for the LIBE Committee of the European Parliament as well as several articles and contributions on the topic.

WALTER STÖCKLI

Former Judge of the Swiss Federal Administrative Court

Walter Stöckli is an esteemed former judge of the Swiss Federal Administrative Court, with a vast experience of assessing appeals in asylum law. Prior to his role at the court, he served as a judge and chamber president at the Asylum Appeals Commission. He also played an instrumental role in setting up the legal aid service at the Swiss Refugee Aid Organisation SFH. Mr. Stöckli has authored several articles and publications on the subject of asylum law, and is credited as the initiator and editor of the distinguished journal, ASYL.

JYOTHI KANICS

Expert on Rights of Migrants in a Vulnerable Situation

Jyothi Kanics has advocated for migrant rights with UNHCR, UNICEF and Save the Children since 1995. She supports vulnerable migrants, including trafficked persons, detained migrants, separated children, stateless persons, and undocumented migrants. Jyothi has a PhD in Law from the University of Lucerne, a Masters in International Human Rights Law from the University of Oxford, and a Masters in International Relations from Yale University. She provides expert advice to NGOs and foundations and serves as an Advisory Committee member of the European Network on Statelessness in Switzerland. Additionally, she is an Associate Member of the NGO Child Circle, contributing to advocacy work at the European level.

Expert on Asylum Law

ROMAN SCHULER

Roman Schuler is an Attorney practising in Lucerne, specialising in migration law, human rights and criminal law. He regularly conducts proceedings before the European Court of Human Rights and the UN Committee Against Torture and publishes on migration law issues.

DR. IUR. MARC SPESCHA

Expert on Migration Law and Migration Criminal Law

Dr. iur. Marc Spescha is a lawyer focusing on migration law and migration criminal law in Zurich. Furthermore, he also teaches Swiss migration law at the University of Fribourg and has had several other teaching positions in various institutions. He also authored several published articles, mainly in the field of migration law.

DR. IUR. STEPHANIE MOTZ

Expert on migration law and international human rights procedures

Stephanie Motz is a lawyer from Zurich specializing in migration and criminal law as well as international human rights proceedings. She regularly conducts proceedings before the European Court of Human Rights and the UN Committees. She is an expert on asylum law for the Swiss Confederation's CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women) guidelines and drafts expert reports on the compatibility of Swiss asylum law with international human rights and refugee law standards for e.g. UNHCR. She teaches International Migration Law at the University of Lucerne.

ALEXANDRA DUFRESNE

Expert on child and refugee law and policy

Alexandra Dufresne is an American lawyer for refugees and children. In the U.S., she represented low-income refugees and immigrants detained by the Department of Homeland Security and taught Child Law, Refugee Law, and Immigration Law at Yale College. She also worked for many years as a lawyer at leading children's rights NGOs and on the Board of IRIS, a leading refugee resettlement NGO. She teaches Child Law at the University of Zurich and Anglo-American law at ZHAW, where she is currently writing a textbook on Anglo-American law. Alexandra Dufresne is also the Director of ZHAW's International NGO Law and Policy Project. She writes frequently about policy and political issues for U.S., European, and UK media. She serves on the Board of Trustees of Asylos and on the Advisory Committee of New Women Connectors.

MAJA LYSIENIA

Expert on international and EU migration and asylum law

Dr. iur. Maja Lysienia combines academic research with a first-hand experience in providing legal assistance to asylum seekers, refugees, migrants and stateless persons. For over twelve years, she has been supporting with her legal expertise various international and civil society
organizations working on asylum and migration. Her doctoral dissertation, written at the University of Zurich, focused on the judicial dialogue between the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the European Union in the area of asylum. She is a long-standing national expert within the Asylum Information Database (AIDA) run by the European Council on Refugees and Exiles.

Council

Committee

ASYLEX COMMITTEE

AsyLex is supported by numerous personalities from civil society, culture, business and politics. Learn more about the members of our AsyLex Committee and their reasons for supporting us.

DICK MARTY

Politician (Liberal Party) and former public prosecutor

"Migrants are today the most vulnerable population, the most exposed to the abuses of all kind. The AsyLex commitment is of paramount importance because it reminds us that we are in a State of Law and that the Constitution prescribes to act with a “spirit of solidarity and openness to the world”."

TOMMY VERCETTI

Rapper

"The West sets the world on fire and shuts its doors. Part of this inhuman and despicable strategy is that refugees do not even understand the asylum procedures and thus their already small chances and severely curtailed rights. Asylex makes an important contribution to rectifying this situation."

MARTIN LANDOLT

Member of the National Council, President BDP

"AsyLex represents the values of humanitarian Switzerland. I find it worthy of support that they carry out such qualified work with the help of over 50 dedicated volunteers - I wish the team much courage in the future!"

SAMIRA MARTI

Member of the National Council (Social Democrats)

"80 million people worldwide are currently displaced and in search of protection. Those who have found their way to Switzerland face the next challenge: the Swiss asylum system. The legal advice and support that AsyLex offers free of charge to those affected in asylum proceedings is therefore extremely valuable and worthy of support."

BERTRAND PICCARD

Explorer, Doctor and Opinion Leader

"We live in a world where inequalities, in addition to being morally unacceptable, are also becoming a threat to security. This is why I admire the work of AsyLex. This highly motivated team of young volunteers is trying to make the impossible possible—to give access to free legal aid to the most disadvantaged people in our society."

DAMIEN COTTIER

Member of the National Council (Liberal Party)

"I believe it is important to support an association like AsyLex, as it helps people in very vulnerable situations who do not know how our institutions work and who find themselves powerless when faced with complex issues in a foreign language and environment. AsyLex offers them useful support to better understand the stakes of a complex and potentially impressive procedure. It is important that the asylum procedure allows for the most objective possible definition of who is entitled to international protection within the meaning of the 1951 Geneva Convention on Refugees."

LISA MAZZONE

Member of the Council of States (Green Party)

"At the end of the migratory journey, the asylum system is a new maze, through which it is essential to be able to defend oneself by asserting one's rights. AsyLex is an invaluable support for all legal questions on this road."

ASYLEX BOARD

Lea Hungerbühler, President
Nathalie Vainio, Vice President

Annette Hafner, External Advisor

Nina Lim, External Advisor

Regula Hungerbühler, External Communication

Adrian Zwicker, IT/Tech

Marcel Werdenberg, Finance

Jessica Gauch, Legal/Quality Management

Joanna Freiermuth, Legal/Events & Education

Mei Yi Lew, Legel/Quality Management

Julie Frei, Legal/Actuary

Rabea Besch, Fundraising

Sharlene Westerwinter, HR

Aresu Rabbani, Translation

Emirhan Darcan, Translation

ASYLEX TEAMS

Board

FAMILY TEAM

In the Family Team we are responsible for all questions related to family reunification. If you have family members (spouses, children, parents) who are still abroad or who do not have a Swiss residence permit yet, we are happy to support, answer your questions and/or help drafting a request or an appeal.

SOCIAL SUPPORT & CIVIL LAW TEAM

The social support and civil law team deals with side effects of the asylum procedure and difficulties during the integration in Switzerland.
In addition to general questions about dealing with authorities and about support services offered by civil society, we advise asylum seekers during and after their asylum procedure on social welfare matters and civil law (e.g. consumers rights) issues.

DETENTION & CRIMINAL LAW TEAM

The Detention & Criminal Law Team represents people who are in detention pending deportation. We appeal against detention orders or file applications for release from detention. If you know someone who is affected by this, or if you are in this situation yourself, please contact us!

DUBLIN TEAM

The Dublin Team provides guidance to clients about the Dublin-III-Regulation, which decides which member state is responsible to examine the asylum application. We review and assess Dublin decisions by SEM, we check whether family members in other Dublin countries are allowed to be reunited with the person in Switzerland and support with the reunification. We also calculate Dublin-III-deadlines (particularly the deadline for Switzerland to return a person to another member state).

Besides this, we are of course happy to help you with any other question related to the Dublin-III-Regulation.

AIG / ASYLUM PROCEDURE TEAM

In the AIG / Procedure Team, we are responsible for tasks and questions concerning the asylum procedure as well as migration law. These tasks include reconsideration requests in the asylum procedure, requests for change of canton, requests for change of permit (N to B and F to B). We are looking forward to helping you in these matters!

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION TEAM

The International Cooperation Team manages the international network of AsyLex. Through our membership in several international and European organizations, we are able to participate in the political development of asylum law. We further maintain AsyLex's network of partner organisations, which includes responding to requests and establishing contacts for people being deported from Switzerland. In addition, the international cooperation team includes Team Afghanistan, Team Greece, Team Italy and Team Lebanon.
Finally, we are responsible for humanitarian visas.

INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LITIGATION TEAM

The International Human Rights Litigation Team supports people who experienced serious human rights violations such as sexual gender-based violence (SGBV), torture, serious racial discrimination, as well as violations against children’s rights. We bring cases that have not been adequately assessed during the national asylum procedures to international instances such as CAT, CEDAW, CERD and CRC. In this way, we aim to prevent the removal of vulnerable people to their country of origin or a Dublin state, where they would be exposed to severe human rights violations again.

OPERATION
TEAM

AsyLex has various teams that handle the daily business of running the organization, such as Administration, Translation, Finance & Fundraising, Education & Training, HR & Mental Health, Events, Social Media, Public Relations, Legal Tech & IT, etc. All these teams and volunteers contribute in various important ways to the daily operation of AsyLex and thereby to the support of asylum seekers in Switzerland and other countries.

OFFICE TEAM

The Office Team is responsible for the smooth operation of AsyLex and the coordination of all tasks and teams. Media and collaboration requests can be addressed directly to info@asylex.ch.

Teams

ASYLEX VOLUNTEERS

The team members of AsyLex stand up for refugees' rights every day:

Abdirisak Usman,Team Translation, Translator
Adnan Aljasem, Team Translation, Translator
Aijan Muktar, Team AsyLex Global, Research Volunteer
Alessia Neuschwander, Team International Cooperation, Legal Advisor
Alexandra Dufresne, External Specialist, Legal Advisor
Alexander Gomez Mariaca, Team Detention, Legal Advisor
Alissa Buscemi, Team Dublin, Legal Advisor
Alix Goetz, Team Social Support & Civil Law, Legal Advisor
Alper Canavci, Team Translation, Translatorvane
Amal Ounalli, Team International Litigation, Legal Advisor
Amandine Bernel, Team AIG & Procedure, Legal Advisor
Amtul Mahmood, Team Detention, Legal Advisor
Andrea Würsch, Team International Litigation, Legal Advisor
Andrin Wey, Team Office, Intern AsyLex Global
Anika Brunner, Team International Cooperation, Legal Advisor
Anna Marti, Team International Human Rights Litigation, Legal Advisor
Anne Sophie Mazzoni, Team Criminal Law, Teamleader
Annika Fuchs, Team International Litigation, Legal Advisor
Annina Erni, AIG & Procedure, Co-Teamleader
Arash Sawgand, Team Translation, Translator
Aresu Rabbani, Team Translation, Translator
Artemis Papavasileiou, External Specialist, Legal Advisor
Ashraf Hamza, Team Translation, Translator
Athanasia Paipai, Team International Cooperations, Legal Advisor
Aurélie Salamin, Team Office, Intern NGO Management & Operations
Beatrice Borio, Team AIG & Procedure, Legal Advisor
Berfin Kara, Team Detention, Legal Advisor
Bigna Schall, Team AIG & Procedure, Legal Advisor
Bonnie Thottukadavil, Team Social Support & Civil Law, Legal Advisor
Camille Esnou, Team International Human Rights Litigation, Legal Advisor
Carolina Keller, Team Detention, Legal Advisor
Caroline Widmer, Team International Cooperation, Legal Advisor
Carry Tang, Team International Litigation, Co-Teamleader
Céline Pfister, International Cooperation, Legal Advisor
Charlotte Imhof, Team International Cooperation, Legal Advisor
Chloé Pignolet, Team Family, Legal Advisor
Christina Schultheiss, International Cooperation, Legal Advisor
Claire Dentand, Team Social Support & Civil Law, Legal Advisor
Claude Lehmann, Team Detention, Legal Advisor
Cora Schmid, Team Office, Attorney-at-Law
Claire Lacour, Team AIG & Procedure, Legal Advisor
Clara Böttinger, Team Office, Dublin Intern
Corina Bucher, Team Detention, Legal Advisor
Danai Spiess, Team Criminal Law, Legal Advisor
Daniel Gmür, Team Social Support & Civil Law, Co-Teamleader
Daniel Tsegay, Team Translation, Translator
David Araz, Team Detention, Legal Advisor
Deaa Alhak Chaleh, Legal Tech & IT, Specialist
Delphine Salaverry, Team Office, Refugee Law Intern
Didier Leyvraz, Team Family, Co-Teamleader
Dina Khadum, Team Translation, Translator
Dominic Ley, Team Family Reunification and Dublin, Legal Advisor
Dominik Züsli, AIG & Procedure, Legal Advisor
Dua Sabah, Team International Cooperation, Specialist
Elena Liechti, Team Detention, Legal Advisor
Elena Sousa-Sanchez, Team Office, Intern International Human Rights Litigation
Elena Stüssi, Team AIG & Procedure, Legal Advisor
Elina Yakovleva, Team Ukraine, Legal Advisor
Emirhan Darcan, Team Translation, Translator
Federica, Zürcher, Team AIG Procedures, Legal Advisor
Felicia Käslin, Team HR & Mental Health, Co-Teamleader
Felicia Pankratz, Team Dublin, Legal Advisor
Firas Ismail, Team Translation, Translator
François Baillemont, Team International Cooperation, Legal Advisor
Franziska Lörch, Team AIG & Procedure, Legal Advisor
Gloria Choolamparambil, Team Translation, Teamleader
Grace Gonçalves, Team Translation, Translator
Gregory Stauffer, Team AIG & Procedure, Legal Advisor
Greta Agliati, Team International Litigation, Legal Advisor
Hafez Abou Alchamat, Team Translation, Translator
Hamdy Shaban, Team Translation, Translator
Hanna Minkoska, Team Ukraine, Legal Advisor
Hedda Bölsterli, Team Dublin, Legal Advisor
Hekmat Battman, Team Translation
Henriette Kämpfer, Team Social Support and Civil Law, Legal Advisor
Harun Cetin, Team Social Support and Civil Law, Legal Advisor
Hasan Dursun, Team Translation, Translator
Ilaria Moioli, Team International Cooperation, Legal Advisor
Jasmin Andreatta, Team Detention, Legal Advisor
Jana Bärlocher, Team International Litigation, Legal Advisor
Jana Walder, Team International Cooperation, Co-Teamleader
Janira Bettosini, Team Detention, Legal Advisor
Jeannine Boccali, Team AIG & Procedure, Legal Advisor
Jessica Gauch, Team AIG & Procedure, Co-Teamleader
Joanna Freiermuth, Team International Litigation, Co-Teamleader
Joëlle Spahni, Team Office, Head International
Johanna Hug, Team Dublin, Legal Advisor
Jonas Reymond, Team AIG & Procedure, Legal Advisor
Jonas Zürrer, Team AsyLex Global, Research Volunteer
Jorgos Boulamatsis, Team AIG & Procedure, Legal Advisor
Julia Bayer, Team Detention, Legal Advisor
Julie Frei, Team Detention, Co-Teamleader
Kalliopi Karakaidou, External Specialist, Legal Advisor
Kateryna Popovych, Team Ukraine, Legal Advisor
Kathrin Oester, External Specialist, Specialist
Kokilarasa Saajiny, Team Translation, Translator
Lara Burkhalter, Team International Cooperations, Legal Advisor
Lara Höft, Team Detention, Legal Advisor
Laura Peci, Team Family, Legal Advisor
Laura Zanini, Team Detention, Legal Advisor
Lea Hungerbühler, Team Office, President and Founder
Lea Keller, Team AIG & Procedure, Legal Advisor
Lea Riedener, Team Office, Co-Head of Operations
Lena Carlen, Team Social Support & Civil Law, Legal Advisor
Lena Portmann, Team Family, Legal Advisor
Leonie Uebersax, Team Social Support & Civil Law, Legal Advisor
Leonie Rüegg, Team Social Support & Civil Law, Legal Advisor
Lina Bladh, Team Family, Legal Advisor
Lisa Baruscotti, Team Detention, Legal Advisor
Livia Giezendanner, Team Family, Legal Advisor
Luana Neukomm, Team Criminal Law, Legal Advisor
Luisa Baumann, Team International Cooperations, Co-Teamleader
Lulbahri Araya, Team Translation, Translator
Luzia Neukomm, Team Criminal Law, Legal Advisor
Magda Koukoutsi, Team International Cooperation, Legal Advisor
Mahmoud Fadel, Team Translation, Translator
Mahsa Moghadaszadeh, Team International Cooperation, Legal Advisor
Malika Rahmany, Team Translation, Translator
Malin Winkler, Team Social Support & Civil Law, Legal Advisor
Marcel Werdenberg, Team Finance & Fundraising, Board Member
Marc Mischler, External Specialist, Legal Advisor
Maria Vorobyova, Team Translation, Translator
Marion Chautard, Team Family, Legal Advisor
Maryam Poopal, Team Translation, Translator
Matthias Stauffacher, Team Detention, Legal Advisor
Maximilian Schöller, Team Family, Legal Advisor
Mayra Salazar, Team Translation, Translator
Mei Yi Lew, Team Family, Co-Teamleader
Melissa Bertholds, Team Detention, Mentor
Meret Hofer, Team Office, Co-Head of Operations
Mia Ammon, Team International Cooperation, Legal Advisor
Michael Huber, Team Detention, Legal Advisor
Michael Meyer, Team Office, Head of Dublin
Michel Brülhart Team Office, Head Legal Advisory
Michèle Hurter, Team AIG & Procedure, Legal Advisor
Mike Schumacher, Team Social Support & Civil Law, Legal Advisor
Milena Kundert, Team AIG & Procedure, Legal Advisor
Mira Moubarak, Team International Cooperation, Legal Advisor
Misgna Batha, Team Translation, Translator
Muhammad Kazim Cakmak, Team Translation, Translator
Muhammad Ihtsham Hashmi, Team Legal Tech & IT, Specialist
Murat Yildirim, Team Translation, Translator
Nadja Löhrer, External Specialist, Specialist
Naïma Grünenfelder, Team Office, Intern International Human Rights Litigation
Nathalie Vainio, Team Office, Legal Advisor & Board Member
Neilton Meewes, Team Legal Tech & IT, Specialist
Niaz Mohammadi, Team Translation, Translator
Niklas Gräfen, International Cooperation & International Litigation, Legal Advisor
Nina Neiger, Team Detention, Co-Teamleader
Nina Nodup, Team Family, Legal Advisor
Nisha Thangeswaran, Team Office, Refugee Law Intern
Olha Yavorska, Team Translation, Translator
Orianna Haldimann, Team Detention, Legal Advisor
Pascal Kamber, Team Criminal Law, Legal Advisor
Patricia Bührer, Team Office, Detention intern
Patrizia Birchler, Team AIG & Procedure, Co-Teamleader
Perla Bachman, Team Detention, Legal Advisor
Pierre Raheb, Team Translation, Translator
Rafael Duarte, Team AIG & Procedure, Legal Advisor
Rafael Haeseli, Team Dublin, Co-Teamleader
Rafiullah Rahimi, Team Translations, Translator
Rahel Giudice, External Specialist, Specialist
Ratheeshan Gunaratnam, Team Dublin, Co-Teamleader
Regula Hungerbühler, External Specialist, Board Member
Renata Durdevac, Team Translation, Translator
Rim Zaouia, External Specialist, Legal Advisor
Robiel Mulubrhan, Team Translation, Translator
Ryan Yussuf, Team AsyLex Global, Legal Advisor
Sami Mahjoubi, Team International Litigation, Legal Advisor
Sandra Parra, Team AsyLex Global, Legal Advisor
Sandrine Wibin, Team Family, Legal Advisor
Sara Schödler, Team Criminal Law, External Specialist
Sarah Mills, Team International Cooperation, External Specialist
Sarah Röthlisberger, Team Office, Head of Detention and Criminal Law
Saskia Hefti, Team External Communication, Content Creator
Selina Neuhold, Team Detention, Legal Advisor
Sharlene Westerwinter, Team HR & Mental Health, Co-Teamleader
Simge Alabalik, Team Family, Legal Advisor
Simon Cochrane, Team Detention, Legal Advisor
Simone Blatter, Team Detention, Legal Advisor
Skylar Furley, Team International Cooperations, Legal Advisor
Sophia Koch, Team Family, Legal Advisor
Soroush Moradi, Team Dublin, Legal Advisor
Tana Ibarra, Team Detention, Legal Advisor
Tanja Coskun-Ivanovic, External Specialist, Legal Advisor
Tiziana Pavone, Team Family, Legal Advisor
Ulrich Dällenbach, Team Social Support & Civil Law, Specialist
Vaisnavi Ratnam, Team AIG & Procedure, Legal Advisor
Valerie Bussard, Team International Cooperations, Legal Advisor
Viacheslav Godovskii, Team Translation, Translator
Viktoria Guido, External Specialist, Specialist
Viola Könz, Team International Cooperation, Legal Advisor
Winter Bahar, Team Translation, Translator
Yaqoob Attal, Team Translation, Translator
Yasin Sarwari, Team Translation, Translator
Yasmin Graff, Team International Litigation, Legal Advisor
Yeabio Melake, Team Translation, Translator
Yoseph Endrias Lechebo, Team Translation, Translator
Zia Ensafi, Team Translation, Translator
Zuhir Shaker, Team Translation, Translator

Volunteers