The Council of State is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Pilar Gimeno as Head of the Migration service (SMIG). Ms. Gimeno will take office on September 17, 2024 and will formally take over the management of the SMIG on October 1, 2024 upon the departure of the incumbent, Mr. Serge Gamma.
Ms. Pilar Gimeno, 47, is an observer for the National Commission for the Prevention of Torture. With fourteen years of experience with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), both in the field and at the organization’s headquarters, Ms. Pilar Gimeno has held key positions, including as Head of the Civilian Protection Unit. She has led several initiatives aimed at strengthening the protection of civilian populations affected by armed conflict, with particular attention to migration contexts. She has also worked for Transparency International in Berlin, United Nations Women in Kabul and Amnesty International in London.
A Swiss and Spanish national, Ms. Pilar Gimeno holds a Master’s degree in Political Science and Public Administration from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, a Master’s degree in Economic History from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a Master’s degree in International Law from the Geneva Academy of International Law.
Through her training and career, Ms. Pilar Gimeno can demonstrate solid management skills as well as in-depth knowledge of issues related to both migration and human rights. Her cross-functional strategic vision, her openness to the world and her rich field experience convinced the Council of State to retain her candidacy as head of the migration service (SMIG).
The SMIG is responsible for implementing the federal legislation on foreigners and integration (LEI) and that on asylum (LAsi) in terms of procedure, reception and supervision of asylum seekers. It also applies the federal and cantonal legislation governing the field of foreign labour. It is also the competent cantonal authority within the meaning of the legislation on posted workers. Finally, the SMIG is the body responsible for enforcing criminal expulsions pronounced by the judicial authorities.
The Council of State is pleased to be able to count on the experience and personality of Ms. Pilar Gimeno to take on these missions and the important challenges associated with them. It takes this opportunity to reiterate to Serge Gamma, current head of SMIG, its deep gratitude for all the work accomplished over the past 23 years and sends him its best wishes for the rest of his career.
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