From November 1, 2025, the victim support service in beider Basel will be available by telephone around the clock. Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft are thus keeping the promise they made to the population.
The national standardized telephone number 142 should have been introduced on November 1, 2025. This will implement an obligation from the Istanbul Convention. In spring, it was announced that this would not be possible until May 2026 due to technical difficulties. Unfortunately, this is not the first time that the introduction has had to be postponed.
The cantons of Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft do not want to wait any longer to extend the availability of the victim support number. They have therefore decided to make the telephone contact and advice service offered by Opferhilfe beider Basel (OHBB) available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week as early as November 1.
Low-threshold access around the clock
We asked the two government councillors Stephanie Eymann, Basel-Stadt, and Kathrin Schweizer, Basel-Landschaft, about the importance of the project in the context of victim protection. They jointly replied in writing: “With 24/7 availability by telephone – and from May 2026 with the national standardized victim support telephone number 142 – we can guarantee people affected by violence low-threshold access to initial information on victims’ rights around the clock.”
The two councillors hope that this step will lead to concrete improvements: “We hope that more victims of violence will dare to come forward. Especially in the area of domestic and sexualized violence, where we still have to assume a high number of unreported cases despite the high number of cases. The victim support number makes it easier for victims to report violent assaults and increases the visibility of victim support. This is of central importance for the implementation of the Istanbul Convention.”
Successful test operation
During the ESC in Basel, the 24/7 operation of the telephone number for victim support in beider Basel was tested as a national pilot project. At the same time, cooperation with the Dargebotene Hand was practiced. The findings will be incorporated when the number 142 is introduced nationwide next May. The OHBB has drawn up sample documents for the takeover and training, which can and should be used in all cantons.
A core element is the qualitative reporting of all calls, which OHBB has developed and which is now being implemented throughout Switzerland. This helps us to respond even better to the concerns and questions of the people concerned, gain important insights and draw the right conclusions.
Victim Support is currently working closely with the Charitable Hand and is training the volunteers from the Charitable Hand for this additional task. Both teams are motivated and can build on the positive, appreciative experiences during the ESC.
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At night and at weekends, the number is operated by Dargebotene Hand beider Basel.
The Dargebotene Hand provides basic counseling and, if necessary, refers the victim to the day service for counseling.
Victim Support beider Basel is available 24/7
Tel: +41 61 205 09 10
