Basel

Home to over 200,000 residents, Basel has a vibrant youth population, with nearly 20% being young people. While the city is recognized for its progressive stance on LGBTQIA+ rights, queer and trans youth continue to face significant challenges, including a lack of safe, affirming spaces and elevated risks to their mental health and well-being. In 2024, Basel took an important step by establishing Switzerland's most progressive equality law. However, the needs of LGBTQIA+ youth continue to far exceed the limited support systems in place.

The S²Cities Programme (Safe and Sound Cities Programme) addresses these gaps and builds on existing efforts, catalysing stronger, youth-led action where every queer young person feels safe, seen, and supported.

By placing LGBTQIA+ youth at the center of urban safety efforts, S²Cities is working to create dedicated, inclusive environments where queer and trans youth can truly thrive. This vision is grounded in inclusive outreach across local networks, universities, and youth associations.

Young people involved with S²Cities will co-create and implement context-specific initiatives in partnership with city stakeholders, aiming to strengthen queer visibility, agency, and well-being. A key aspect of the first phase of project implementation is the establishment of a dedicated youth hub: an affirming, accessible space for expression, collaboration, and support.

S²Cities aims to drive systemic change for LGBTQIA+ youth, starting in Basel and expanding across all programme cities, offering a replicable model for advancing LGBTQIA+ rights and promoting urban equity.