Flight, migration and integration
Asylum seekers and refugees have a right to accommodation, medical care and legal support. People with a migration background or people of different religions must be protected from violence, discrimination and exploitation. They should be given opportunities to participate in society and politics.
People from 114 nations live in Liechtenstein. Foreigners make up 35 percent of the permanent population. They cannot vote. Yet the political participation of all is very important for a democratic society. As part of the "Diversity in politics" project, the VMR looked for opportunities for political participation by foreigners in Liechtenstein. To this end, it carried out a comprehensive analysis, gathered the opinions of those affected and discussed proposals from experts and political parties. The results of the study were published in a report with specific recommendations at the beginning of 2025. The report can be downloaded at www.menschenrechte.li/integration.
Over 85 percent of Liechtenstein's population belong to a religious community. In addition to the Catholic Church, which is enshrined in the constitution as the national church, there are other active religious communities in Liechtenstein. Unfortunately, there is still no legal basis for these religious communities, which means that they have to organize themselves as private associations and are not entitled to public recognition or state funding. The VMR is committed to the equality of all religious communities and to interreligious dialog in Liechtenstein. This strengthens mutual understanding, helps to break down prejudices and promotes social cohesion so that peaceful and tolerant coexistence is guaranteed. Together with Haus Gutenberg, the VMR organizes the annual Round Table of Religions. In addition to cultivating relationships, this also gives rise to various interfaith activities, e.g. mutual visits, events, etc. At the "Religion in the Cinema" film festival in the old cinema, five films on various religious themes were shown during the Week of Religions.
The number of asylum seekers in Liechtenstein has never been as high as in the last two years since the Second World War. As of December 31, 2024, there were 727 asylum seekers from Ukraine in Liechtenstein. Many of them are women and children. There are also other regular asylum seekers and temporarily admitted persons. At the "Asylum Round Table", the VMR discusses with all responsible authorities and organizations how the challenge of accommodation and care as well as efficient procedures can be overcome in view of the large numbers and how those seeking protection can be protected from human rights violations. In addition, the VMR trains the independent representatives of aid organizations who monitor asylum interviews. They ensure that asylum procedures in Liechtenstein are conducted correctly. The employees of the refugee aid organization also regularly take part in the training courses and can thus refresh their knowledge of asylum procedures.
