Initiative launched to stop relaxation of Swiss arms exports
Campaigners have started collecting signatures for a people’s initiative to prevent the Swiss government from relaxing rules for exporting arms to conflict-ridden states.
The Federal Chancellery published the initiative text on Tuesday, officially launching the 18-month collection period. The campaigners now have until June 11, 2020 to gather at least 100,000 signatures to try to force a nationwide vote on the issue.
Their initiative, entitled “Against arms exports in countries in civil war”External link, aims to limit the sale of war materials. It follows the government’s announcement in June of the easing of export restrictions, which would have allowed Swiss companies to sell weapons to countries as long as the arms were not used in an internal civil war.
Despite the government’s U-turn, the campaigners are still going ahead with their initiative to prevent future easing of export rules and to return to the status quo prior to 2014.
Back in 2008, the government tightened arms exports rules, but six years later decided to loosen them after pressure from parliament.
Previously, weapons and ammunition could not be exported to countries that systematically violated human rights. From 2014, exports of Swiss weaponry were only banned if there was a risk that the material may be used for serious human rights violations. The new people’s initiative aims to correct this change.
More
More
Swiss arms exports still at odds with humanitarian tradition
This content was published on
A Swiss historian explains how the “arms exports versus humanitarian tradition” paradox has been a recurrent theme since the First World War.
Train line between Brig and Domodossola interrupted
This content was published on
One day after a derailment approximately 15 kilometres from the Swiss border, BLS is running buses for passengers between Preglia and Domodossola, in Italy.
Swiss football boss wants crackdown on individual hooligans
This content was published on
The head of the Swiss Football League says he prefers a harsher approach to individual hooligans rather than collective punishment measures affecting all fans.
Amherd: Council of Europe is ‘as urgently needed as ever’
This content was published on
The Swiss government emphasised on Sunday the vital role of the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe, 75 years after it was founded.
Swiss minister: Italy will back Switzerland in EU talks
This content was published on
Bern can count on the backing of Italy as it re-enters talks with the European Union on future relations, Viola Amherd says.
Student protestors at University of Lausanne continue pro-Palestine sit-in
This content was published on
Since Thursday, a hall on campus has been occupied by students calling for a boycott of Israeli academic institutions and a ceasefire in Gaza.
This content was published on
Swiss public broadcasters RTS and SRF are drastically reducing their communications via the social network X (formerly Twitter).
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
New bid to stop relaxation of Swiss arms exports
This content was published on
A Swiss group wants to launch a people’s initiative to stop the government from relaxing arms export rules to conflict-ridden states.
Swiss arms exports still at odds with humanitarian tradition
This content was published on
A Swiss historian explains how the "arms exports versus humanitarian tradition" paradox has been a recurrent theme since the First World War.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.