‘We don’t want the government restricting our freedom of dress’ This content was published on Feb 24, 2021 Feb 24, 2021 With Swiss voters set to decide on a contentious “burka ban” on March 7, two Muslim feminists and refugees explain their opposition.
An historic and unique opportunity! This content was published on Feb 24, 2021 Feb 24, 2021 I am convinced that the burka ban represents a historic opportunity for the majority of Muslim Swiss citizens like me.
The right to vote as a matter of heart This content was published on Feb 24, 2021 Feb 24, 2021 To really achieve universal suffrage, we need a new approach: make voting rights portable.
How Biden should re-engage with the UN Human Rights Council This content was published on Feb 22, 2021 Feb 22, 2021 The US government’s decision to “re-engage” with the council is a big step toward the multilateral support for human rights.
Swiss response to Covid-19 and other unarmed conflicts This content was published on Feb 18, 2021 Feb 18, 2021 The pandemic should lead us to question how we define conflicts.
Trade in the time of pandemics This content was published on Feb 15, 2021 Feb 15, 2021 With borders closed and global travel constrained, trade will help us find a way out of the pandemic argues the new WTO Director-General.
‘The dangerous proximity between Switzerland’s neutrality and the banality of evil’ This content was published on Feb 12, 2021 Feb 12, 2021 Literary scholar Simon D. Trüb says Swiss neutrality should be questioned from a moral perspective.
To advance gender equality in Switzerland, remove family status from CVs This content was published on Feb 7, 2021 Feb 7, 2021 Zurich-based lawyer Alexandra Dufresne argues that CVs should not include references to marital and parenthood status.
Switzerland's irresponsible reign on the sea This content was published on Jan 27, 2021 Jan 27, 2021 International legal expert Mark Pieth argues that Switzerland needs to stop allowing shipping companies to fly under the regulatory radar.
Have nuclear weapons really become illegal? This content was published on Jan 22, 2021 Jan 22, 2021 On Friday, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) officially enters into force. But will it be effective?
What climate policies can we expect from Joe Biden? This content was published on Jan 21, 2021 Jan 21, 2021 Can US President Joe Biden guide through his environmental policies in the face of expected opposition?
Georgia elections in US showcase the nuts and bolts of democracy building This content was published on Jan 11, 2021 Jan 11, 2021 Zurich-based American law lecturer Alexandra Dufresne sees both positive signs and cautionary tales in recent US political developments.
Aid crisis: Why giving begins – and may stay – at home This content was published on Dec 15, 2020 Dec 15, 2020 While one might have thought that a global pandemic would have led to multilateral cooperation, the exact opposite has taken place, writes analyst...
Do people still care about human rights? This content was published on Dec 11, 2020 Dec 11, 2020 Amid the distress caused by the pandemic and other global challenges, people look to human rights as a driver for hope, says Fabrizio Hochschild.
Small island states 'lead the way' on climate action This content was published on Dec 11, 2020 Dec 11, 2020 The developing world is showing leadership in terms of long-term climate goals but needs more than words to sustain ambition, says UNDP advisor...
‘A leaf out of Switzerland’s book’ on how to elect a president This content was published on Dec 9, 2020 Dec 9, 2020 Political observer Rudolph Thomson looks at the history of the Swiss executive branch, and lessons it may have to offer the United States.
Tackling pandemic threats proactively This content was published on Dec 7, 2020 Dec 7, 2020 If we are to minimize the impact of future disease outbreaks, we must recognise the importance of immunisation.
Why the current anti-terror debate is flawed This content was published on Nov 24, 2020 Nov 24, 2020 The current public discourse on terrorism is extremely dangerous for human rights, writes political scientist Leandra Bias.
The case for supporting Macron's stance on "Islamist separatism" This content was published on Nov 24, 2020 Nov 24, 2020 A global debate on Islamism has flared up, in which the French President called the problem by its name, writes political scientist Elham Manea.
Switzerland lacks a climate foreign policy This content was published on Nov 20, 2020 Nov 20, 2020 The climate crisis requires policies that transcend national boundaries and set aside short-term self-interest, says climate expert Jürg Staudenmann.
Can multinational corporations be responsible? This content was published on Nov 12, 2020 Nov 12, 2020 Can we hold individuals or a multinational responsible for their entire chain of production, asks Daniel Warner.
Let's never forget what happened on November 9 This content was published on Nov 9, 2020 Nov 9, 2020 With the last witnesses of Kristallnacht passing on, remembering the events of that night is paramount, says Anita Winter.
‘There are so many issues at stake in this election’ This content was published on Oct 29, 2020 Oct 29, 2020 An American researcher at ETH Zurich outlines his journey to political involvement ahead of the upcoming US presidential election.
Cowboy culture? Keeping aid workers accountable This content was published on Oct 27, 2020 Oct 27, 2020 There has been a huge amount of soul searching among the international aid community over the years.
Is the time ripe for national referendums in the US? This content was published on Oct 24, 2020 Oct 24, 2020 With the US presidential elections less than two weeks away, journalist Joe Mathews argues for a Swiss-style direct democracy system in the US.
Global public health governance: The way forward in the times of Covid This content was published on Oct 22, 2020 Oct 22, 2020 Following the worldwide spread of Covid-19, Gilles Poumerol stresses the limits of international organizations such as the WHO.
Covid-hit media must find new ways to grow This content was published on Oct 16, 2020 Oct 16, 2020 Some Swiss media outlets lost as much as 95% of their advertising revenues during the Covid-19 pandemic and they are not alone.
Doctor knows best? Why patients must be part of the solution This content was published on Oct 7, 2020 Oct 7, 2020 Patient advocate Judith Safford argues that without the support of the public and patients, health systems are powerless to stop the pandemic.
Humanity needs a digital home This content was published on Oct 2, 2020 Oct 2, 2020 More cooperation is necessary to connect the growing number of digital issues, writes Jovan Kurbalija, head of the Geneva Internet Platform.
Why the high point of climbing is not the summit This content was published on Sep 29, 2020 Sep 29, 2020 I was recently asked why I climb. More specifically, “Why all that effort just to stand on the summit for 15 minutes before going down again?”
