Ordre public

In private international law, ordre public is an exceptional safeguard. A Swiss court may decline to apply otherwise applicable foreign law, or refuse recognition or enforcement of a foreign decision, where the result would be manifestly incompatible with fundamental Swiss legal principles. The threshold is high: mere differences between legal systems do not suffice. The doctrine protects core values such as procedural fairness, equality, personality rights, and basic constitutional principles, while preserving international comity and predictability in cross-border matters.