Speaking at a meeting in Geneva of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), they welcomed the government’s gender equality strategy 2030External link, which is in line with previous recommendations by the committee, according to CEDAW rapporteur on Switzerland Corinne Dettmeijer-Vermeulen.
In terms of advances, CEDAW experts also pointed to better representation of women in politics, a national plan against domestic violence and the introduction of two weeks’ paternity leave. But Dettmeijer-Vermeulen said the committee remains concerned by various issues, including differences in resources for men and women following divorce and differences between cantons in conviction rates for rape. Lack of a national budget for gender issues is also in “contradiction” with the policy strategy vaunted by the government, she said.
The Swiss government delegation admitted that efforts are still needed, notably on reducing the gender pay gap, and violence against women.
CEDAW is expected to produce an official report with recommendations at a later date. It is currently also reviewing the gender equality records of Honduras, Gambia and Ukraine, where civil society has expressed concernExternal link about the rise in sexual violence as a result of the Russian aggression.
More
More
Gender equality: We may never fully succeed, but we still have to fight
This content was published on
We talk to expert Patricia Schulz about what has changed for women’s rights and what still needs to change.
Switzerland to introduce flight passenger database
This content was published on
Switzerland plans to introduce a flight passenger database to collect and process personal data in a bid to combat terrorism and serious crime.
Government plans to invest over CHF16bn in Swiss rail network
This content was published on
The federal government intends to invest CHF16.4 billion ($18.1 billion) in railway infrastructure between 2025 and 2028, CHF2 billion more than for the current period.
Swiss to vote on pension reform and biodiversity in September
This content was published on
Swiss citizens will vote on occupational pension schemes and a biodiversity initiative on September 22, the Federal Council announced on Wednesday.
Ukraine peace talks: 50 countries have confirmed participation
This content was published on
To date, 50 countries out 160 invited delegations have confirmed they will attend the Ukraine peace conference, held in central Switzerland in mid-June, according to Swiss public radio, RTS.
Federer-backed On boosts forecast after sneaker demand rises
This content was published on
Swiss footwear company On Holding AG posted strong first-quarter revenue, boosted by demand for its running shoes and new line of training apparel.
Michael Schumacher’s watches fetch CHF4 million at Swiss auction
This content was published on
Watches belonging to Formula 1 great Michael Schumacher sold for around CHF4 million ($4.41 million) at auction house Christie's in Geneva on Tuesday.
Macron will attend Swiss summit on Ukraine, says Zelensky
This content was published on
French President Emmanuel Macron will attend the peace conference on Ukraine at the Swiss Bürgenstock resort next month, according to Volodymyr Zelensky.
Switzerland lays out commitment to tackling violence against women
This content was published on
On average a woman dies every two-and-a-half weeks in Switzerland after being attacked. The numbers of reported domestic abuse cases have been rising for years, peaking at 20,123 last year. Some 27,000 children are also affected by domestic abuse each year, says the report. Switzerland’s first national report on violence against women is an important…
Swiss adopt first national strategy on gender equality
This content was published on
The Swiss government has new strategy to promote equal pay as well as the compatibility of careers and family life. There will also be a push to protect women from violence.
Swiss voters approve paternity leave, bury family tax breaks
This content was published on
A two-week paternity leave passed with strong support, while more tax deductions for families with children failed at the ballot box.
This content was published on
Women photographers documented the strike on June 14, 2019, which brought hundreds of thousands of people to the streets demanding gender equality.
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.