On May 1, the number 142 will be launched throughout Switzerland. The new emergency number for victims of violence will be managed by Opferhilfe beider Basel together with volunteers from Dargebotene Hand. Preparations for this have been underway since summer 2025. At the end of these training sessions, a full-day training course provided an opportunity to make contact with emergency services.
Since November 1, 2025, victims of violence have been able to reach Victim Support beider Basel by telephone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This is possible because Dargebotene Hand beider Basel takes over the night and weekend shifts. The time until 1 May has been and will be used continuously to prepare everyone in terms of content, organization and technology for the new number 142, which will then be activated as the national victim support number.
Preparation since the ESC
The Dargebotene Hand, the contact point for emotional first aid with the number 143, is run by volunteers. Since the ESC in Basel, where a victim support number was available 24/7 for the first time, the volunteers have been preparing for the introduction of the number 142. The major event provided the ideal opportunity for the victim support and Dargebotene Hand teams to get to know each other and understand how they work. Calls to the ESC helpline were answered by victim support staff on the premises of the Dargebotene Hand. The exchange revealed that numerous people affected by violence had already contacted the 143. The volunteers are confronted with a wide variety of concerns of all degrees of severity.
From August 2025, specific introductory training courses were held for the volunteers. Basic knowledge relevant to victims was imparted and the different procedures depending on the needs and concerns of the people calling were run through. This also demonstrated the volunteers’ extensive prior knowledge, which could be built on. Since then, four coordinated workshops have been held, each attended by a good 40 volunteers from the Dargebotene Hand. The situations experienced in the telephone calls were always dealt with in these training sessions.
Learning from the number 144
On March 7, a full-day training retreat for the volunteers took place at the office of Opferhilfe beider Basel to conclude the preparatory and introductory phase. In addition to victim-relevant training topics on children and young people on the phone, psychological violence, spirals of violence and criminal proceedings, all participants visited the emergency call center of the rescue and medical emergency call center of beider Basel in two groups. Calls to the 118 and 144 numbers are answered there. Head of Operations Michel Eigenmann personally guided the groups and was able to amaze the volunteers. It was impressive to see how many missions had to be carried out simultaneously throughout Switzerland on this Saturday. The beautiful weather had attracted countless people to the ski slopes, and some of them had to be flown to hospital by helicopter after an accident.
Alongside the police, the 144 number is the central partner in acute crisis situations when implementing the victim assistance number. The volunteers were able to get a very good idea of how the rescue service works. This insight goes a long way towards ensuring that people affected by violence are passed on to a blue light organization without delay in such difficult moments. At the same time, it is good for the emergency services to know that there is a victim support number that can absorb a lot and in which the human factor plays a very important role.
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Children and young people are becoming more frequent victims of violence, as shown by the case numbers of victim support services. Kristin Busch and her child and youth counseling team support those affected and advise professionals. She also knows what additional services need to be created so that young people can grow up in a stable environment.
Children and young people are becoming more frequent victims of violence, as shown by the case numbers of victim support services. Kristin Busch and her child and youth counseling team support those affected and advise professionals. She also knows what additional services need to be created so that young people can grow up in a stable environment.
When children and young people experience domestic or sexualized violence, it has a massive impact on their development. The FHNW is now offering a CAS program on this subject. It imparts practical knowledge and provides professionals with guidance on how to professionally assess risk and provide support.
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
