Privacy Policy
COOPI Suisse Data Protection Statement – Updated on 23.06.2025
Website Terms of Use and Copyright
This Data Protection Statement provides comprehensive information regarding the collection, processing, and protection of personal data of users who visit our website or subscribe to our newsletter. COOPI Suisse is committed to ensuring the highest level of privacy and confidentiality of the personal data provided, in compliance with current data protection regulations, including the Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP), the new Swiss Data Protection Act (revFADP), which came into force in September 2023, and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of the European Union, where applicable.
The protection of your personal data is a top priority for us. With this statement, we aim to clearly explain how we collect, process, and protect your data, what your rights are and how you can exercise them, and what security measures we adopt to safeguard your privacy. This policy applies to all users browsing our website and to those subscribing to our newsletter or interacting with us through other online means.
Legal Basis for Data Processing
In compliance with the Swiss Data Protection Act (revFADP) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the processing of personal data by COOPI Suisse occurs only on legitimate and clearly defined legal grounds. Specifically, data is processed under the following legal bases:
o Explicit consent of the data subject: When we collect your data, we always rely on your explicit consent, which must be freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR). For example, if you subscribe to our newsletter, your consent is required to receive promotional messages and updates about our projects and activities.
o Legitimate interest: In certain situations, your data is processed based on our legitimate interest, provided it does not override your fundamental rights. For example, we may process your data to send information about our projects and activities, always in a manner respectful of your rights (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR).
o Performance of contractual or public interest obligations: In some cases, data processing is necessary to fulfill obligations arising from a contract with you (e.g., to process a donation) or to carry out tasks in the public interest (Art. 6(1)(e) GDPR). This also includes responding to user requests or completing a transaction you initiated.
Contact for Data Protection Inquiries
For any questions or requests related to the processing of personal data by COOPI Suisse, please contact us at suisse@coopi.org . Kindly include “Data Protection” in the subject line to facilitate the handling of your request. Our data protection team will respond promptly and appropriately to any concerns you may have.
Data Controller
The data controller is COOPI Suisse, an organization headquartered in Lugano, Via Curti 19/A. We are responsible for managing the website and processing the personal data we collect. All documentation, images, graphics, software, and other content on our website are the exclusive property of COOPI Suisse and are protected by intellectual property rights and copyright. The website may only be used for personal and non-commercial purposes. Any unauthorized use of website content, including texts, images, logos, and trademarks, is strictly prohibited without written consent from COOPI Suisse. COOPI Suisse assumes no responsibility for damages of any kind resulting from accessing or the inability to access this website, or from using the site and its content.
Purpose of Data Processing
COOPI Suisse collects and processes personal data of users primarily for the following purposes:
Fulfilling user requests: To respond to inquiries, manage orders, information requests, project or event participation, and complete donations or memberships.
Supporting COOPI Suisse’s projects and activities: To manage initiatives such as donations, legacy gifts, fundraising, and other efforts that support our humanitarian mission and international cooperation.
Periodic communications and marketing: Data may be used to send newsletters, event and campaign updates, and to promote projects and activities unless the right to object to marketing is exercised.
Recruitment and personnel selection: To manage spontaneous applications or potential job openings within the organization.
Analysis and service improvement: To perform statistical analyses, evaluate user behavior on the site, and improve service quality and user experience.
This may include collecting the sender’s address (required to respond to inquiries), as well as any other personal data included in the message. Providing this data is optional but necessary to fulfill the user’s request or to complete a relationship. This processing is based on the principle that personal data may be lawfully processed if necessary for the execution of the service requested by the data subject. Providing data for promotional and profiling purposes is optional; refusal will have no consequences except for the inability to receive promotional material related to our activities and projects.
Types of Data Collected
The personal data we collect includes identifying and contact information, such as first name, last name, address, phone number, and email address. If you make a donation or payment, we also collect the payment details necessary to complete the transaction. Additionally, the website’s IT systems automatically collect certain browsing data, such as IP addresses, cookies, and other information related to website usage. For more details, please refer to our Cookie Policy.
Data Processing Methods
Data is processed manually and electronically, in compliance with applicable data protection laws. It is processed solely by authorized personnel and is protected by appropriate security measures to ensure confidentiality, integrity, and protection against unauthorized access, loss, or unlawful use.
We use advanced security technologies such as SSL/TLS encryption to protect data during transmission. Our database is accessible only by personnel authorized by the Data Controller. Both automated (electronic) and non-automated (paper) systems are used, each with proper safeguards in line with the revFADP to prevent data loss, misuse, or unauthorized access.
Data Disclosure to Third Parties
Personal data may be disclosed to selected providers acting on behalf of COOPI Suisse. These providers are designated as Data Processors and process data solely for purposes related to the requested service, such as handling transactions, shipping, or legal/tax support. Providers are bound by confidentiality obligations and are not authorized to process data for other purposes.
Links to Third-Party Websites
Our website may contain links to third-party websites. COOPI Suisse is not responsible for the data protection practices of external websites, and we encourage users to consult their respective privacy policies before submitting any personal data. Our website may link to pages managed by other entities or companies: COOPI Suisse assumes no responsibility for their availability, content, products, or services, nor for any damage or loss resulting from their use. COOPI Suisse is not liable for how these third parties collect or process personal data.
Data Retention
Personal data is stored only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, and in any case, not beyond the periods required by applicable law. Specifically, data collected for marketing or profiling purposes will be retained until consent is withdrawn.
Data Subject Rights
As a data subject, you have the right to exercise the following rights at any time:
Access: Request a copy of the personal data we process about you (Art. 15 GDPR).
Rectification and Erasure: Request the correction of inaccurate data or the deletion of data that is no longer needed (Art. 16 & 17 GDPR).
Restriction of Processing: Request restricted processing under certain circumstances (Art. 18 GDPR).
Data Portability: Request the transfer of your data to another controller (Art. 20 GDPR).
Object to Processing: Object to data processing for marketing purposes or on legitimate grounds.
Requests can be submitted to the Data Controller by writing to: suisse@coopi.org
Website Security
Access to our website is secured using encrypted transmission (SSL/TLS, particularly with HTTPS). We use third-party services to support our digital infrastructure, notably Hostpoint, which provides hosting and data storage services and guarantees a 30-day data backup. These providers may process necessary data—typically on our behalf—for website functionality. This includes your IP address. We ensure adequate data protection with these providers.
Website Usage Data
To analyze website usage, we use Google Analytics, an open-source tool that anonymously measures site performance and link success from third-party sites. See Google Analytics’ Privacy Policy and Data Policy for more. We also use Plausible, a privacy-friendly analytics tool. All measurements are fully anonymous, processed exclusively by servers owned and operated by European companies, and do not leave the EU.
Use of Functional Cookies
Our website uses functional cookies only—no tracking cookies are used, and no personal data is collected. Cookies are text files stored in the user’s browser. Cookies cannot execute programs or transmit harmful software like trojans or viruses. As mentioned, the site uses Google Analytics to analyze usage data.
Cookies/Tracking and Related Technologies
A cookie is a file containing an identifier (a string of letters and numbers) sent by a server to a browser and stored by the browser. This identifier is then sent back to the server whenever the browser requests a page. Cookies are either persistent (remain valid until a set expiration date) or session-based (deleted when the browser is closed). Cookies usually don’t contain personally identifiable information, but personal data stored by users may be linked to information in cookies.
Cookies We Use
We use cookies for the following purposes:
(a) Authentication – We use cookies to authenticate or identify the user when they visit our website;
(b) Personalization – We use cookies to store user preferences and personalize the website accordingly;
(c) Security – We use cookies as part of our security measures to protect users, for example, from fraudulent use of data, and to safeguard our website and services in general;
(d) Advertising – We use cookies to allow users to view ads that are relevant to them;
(e) Analytics – We use cookies to analyze the usage and performance of our website and services;
(f) Preferences – We use cookies to store user preferences regarding cookie settings.
For details on individual cookies, please refer to the applicable policies and guidelines.
Cookies Used by Our Service Providers
Our service providers use cookies that may be stored on the user’s device when they visit our website. We use Google Analytics to analyze the use of our website. Google Analytics uses cookies to collect information about website usage. This information is then used to generate reports on website activity. You can review Google’s data protection and privacy statement here: https://policies.google.com/privacy
General Disclaimer
All the above information has been carefully verified, and COOPI Suisse is committed to ensuring it is as accurate, up-to-date, and complete as possible. However, errors cannot be entirely ruled out. Therefore, any claims for damages caused by the use of the information provided—including incomplete or incorrect information—will be rejected.
Users always retain the right to withdraw their consent to the use of their personal data at any time.
The publisher reserves the right to modify or delete texts at its discretion and without prior notice and is not obligated to update the website content. The use and access to the website are the sole responsibility of the user. The publisher shall not be liable for any damages, whether direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential, that may allegedly result from the use of this website and, consequently, assumes no responsibility for such damages.
The publisher therefore expressly distances itself from any third-party content that may be relevant under criminal or civil law or that may be deemed offensive to public decency.
Changes to This Data Protection Statement
o COOPI Suisse reserves the right to update or modify this Data Protection Statement at any time to reflect legal, regulatory, technical, or business changes. Any updates will be promptly published on this webpage and will become effective as of the date of publication.
o Users are encouraged to review this statement periodically to stay informed about how their personal data is handled. In the case of significant changes, we will inform users appropriately, using additional communication channels if necessary (e.g., email).
o If a user does not agree with the changes made to this statement, they will need to discontinue the use of our website and services