Demokratische Jurist*innen der Schweiz (DJS)

Demokratische Jurist*innen der Schweiz (DJS) an association within the meaning of Art. 60ff of the Swiss Civil Code has existed since its foundation in 1978, with its registered office in Bern.

Democratic Lawyers of Switzerland brings together lawyers and attorneys who are committed to the development of a democratic constitutional state, the fight against abuse of power, and solidarity with disadvantaged groups in law and politics. In addition to its general secretariat, the DJS consists of various regional sections.

Objectives

The objective of the association “Democratic Lawyers of Switzerland DJS” is to democratize law and society and to expand—and this includes defending—legal protection.

From the outset, the DJS has faced major obstacles. However, over the past 30 years, it has sometimes been possible to circumvent one or two of these obstacles, to maintain rights, or even to improve them. However, what is true in other areas of social policy is also true in the judiciary:

successes in our sense are rare, and all too often history repeats itself. The DJS—and with it all those affected—are thus faced with challenging tasks: once again, it is necessary to defend access to the Federal Supreme Court for all. And it is necessary to consistently demand fundamental rights such as the right to asylum or the right to freedom from surveillance, and to prevent politicians from delegating more and more socio-political problems to the judiciary (and the police). The planned dismantling of legal protection in various areas must be stopped, and the rights of defense attorneys that have been won must be preserved.

The DJS is certainly too small an association to have a major impact. The strength of the association lies not in its large membership, but in its ability to network with other organizations from a clear political standpoint, to provide valuable impetus in this network of political and social movements, and to persistently intervene where others turn a blind eye: for legal equality and equal treatment, against discrimination of all kinds, for unhindered access to justice, against tightening asylum and immigration laws or prison conditions. And so on and so forth.

Members of the DJS can rely on a legally and politically reliable structure. For 30 years. And in the future too.