The purpose of this project is to facilitate political participation of Latin-American immigrants in Switzerland.

We are convinced that a good level on integration can only be achieved when immigrants feel responsible and are able to participate in the decision-making process of the place they reside in. So far, only 7 out of the 26 Swiss cantons have granted political rights to foreigners, only and exclusively at a local level. To achieve proper exercise of these new rights, we feel that neither the necessary tools have been provided, nor the respective incentives for foreigners to participate in the democratic processes of this country where 21% of the population comes from abroad.

The PARLA project (participación Latino Americana) is the result of an academic study carried out at  the Federal Polytechnic Institute of Lausanne (EPFL), regarding  electronic governance after building a virtual community of 9,200 e-mail addresses by the Latin-American association Depapaya.org. Over the past five years, this work has been taking place in the western part of Switzerland, where more than 70% of these immigrants live.


The project consists of three phases:

1. Information
2. Communication
3. Participation

In this first phase, Depapaya.org aims to develop an online training program about the Swiss political setting, immigrants rights and responsibilities, Swiss government structure and history, and the possibilities for participation to which immigrants are entitled to.

This initial experience will be constantly monitored in order to measure its informative impact. Subsequently, it can be applied to other communities of immigrants. Spanish will be the main language in order to guarantee a better understanding. We are certain that this guide will serve as a useful tool to increase the low percentage of participation of this area of the population as observed during the last local elections in 2007.

Aporte de Pamela Valdes