heks

Over 32,000 landless people and smallholders have been given access to land in the last year thanks to the Swiss Interchurch Aid organisation (HEKS). HEKS supports people and organisations in their fight for land in Latin America, Asia and Africa. A key concern of the development cooperation work undertaken by the aid organisation is that the people concerned should obtain access to resources – and access to land in particular. As many people as possible in this world should lead independent lives in dignity and be able to look after themselves as a result of access to the resources to which they are entitled, thereby bringing about sustained improvements in their living conditions.

HEKS is finding that more and more people in Switzerland who, for structural and personal reasons, live on the margins of society, need assistance in dealing with officialdom and legislation. Those concerned include Swiss nationals as well as people from other countries. HEKS therefore runs legal advice centres in various Swiss towns to provide low-income and socially disadvantaged people with information on legislation covering the areas of social insurance, social welfare, marriage, children and legal guardians, tenancy and foreign nationals.