Europe
Switzerland.
Swiss federal criminal law makes it an offense not to help a person in immediate danger to life when help could reasonably be expected (Art. 128 of the Criminal Code). Federal tax law lets taxpayers deduct voluntary gifts to tax-exempt Swiss charities and to public bodies, subject to a ceiling, and the Civilian Service Act organizes work in the public interest as an alternative to military service. Volunteering in the associational sense is supported by benevol Schweiz, an umbrella of regional offices, which is not itself a government body.
Is there a legal duty to help a stranger?
YesArt. 128 of the Swiss Criminal Code punishes anyone who fails to help a person they have injured, or a person in immediate life-threatening danger, where help could reasonably be expected given the circumstances, and also anyone who prevents or hinders others from giving aid. The penalty is a custodial sentence of up to three years or a monetary penalty. The duty is limited to immediate danger to life or to persons the actor injured, and to what can reasonably be expected.
Are people who help protected?
LimitedNo Swiss federal statute titled as a Good Samaritan law was found. The Code of Obligations rules on agency without authority (Art. 419-422) say that someone who acts to avert imminent damage to another is judged more leniently on liability (Art. 420 para. 2), and that, where the act was in the other person's interest, that person must reimburse necessary or useful expenses and may be ordered to compensate other damage the helper suffered (Art. 422). These articles are general civil law and do not mention first aid by name; no cantonal first-aid or Good Samaritan rules were verified for this guide.
How the government promotes giving and service
Ways to give and volunteer
Switzerland has a strong tradition of private giving and volunteering, and many local services are run by foundations and church-linked groups. The one thing to know first: the Zewo seal marks charities that meet national standards.
Check a charity before you give
The Swiss certification body for charitable organizations, with a searchable list of groups that hold its seal of quality.
Give your time
Give money, blood or a donation
In an emergency or a crisis
Before you act
- Fake donation requests by phone, mail and online are common, so check the group against the Zewo list and pay only to the account on its official site.
- Ask street collectors for authorization, as rules differ by canton.
- Foreign visitors should check permit and visa rules before volunteering.
This list does not cover every local group, religious services or political causes, and it is not a recommendation of any one charity. Checked 2026-10-28. Listing an organization is not an endorsement, and none of them has endorsed this site. Some official sites block automatic checks, so a link may need a second try.
One thing worth knowing
Swiss criminal law pairs the duty to help with a separate offense for hindering others from helping, and the penalty for either can reach three years in custody (Criminal Code Art. 128).
What this does not mean
This is not legal advice. English texts are information translations with no legal force; the tax and civilian service sources were read only in German. Benevol and similar volunteering networks are private associations, and no federal volunteering statute or cantonal Good Samaritan rule was verified for this guide. This is a plain-language summary of public sources, not legal advice, and it does not rank countries. No government named here has endorsed this site. Not reviewed by a lawyer. Statutes were read in public sources and may have changed. Last checked October 26, 2026.