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Dear Swiss living abroad…

This content was published on Oct 27, 2016 We’re on Instagram! Please share your pictures using the hashtag #WeAreSwissAbroad.

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Swiss ‘outcry’ reflects global study

This content was published on Oct 26, 2016 An online campaign revealed that many women in Swiss parliament deal with everyday sexism. A study shows it's an issue around the world. In Switzerland, an online campaign caused a firestorm on social media – and a swelling list of female politicians registering their reproach – after Andrea Giessbühler, a female parliamentarian from the conservative right Swiss People’s Party, said in an interview that certain punishments for rape should be lowered when naive victims are partially at fault.But the experiences of Swiss female parliamentarians, who were also reacting to the controversy over US presidential nominee Donald Trump’s comments about women, appear to be just the proverbial tip of the iceberg when placed in a global context. A study released on Wednesday by the Geneva-based Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) showed more than 65% of women parliamentarians worldwide surveyed by the IPU reported being the victims of “humiliating sexist remarks” during their time in office. A quarter had been victims of physical violence because of their position in government, and 21% had experienced sexual violence. Another 32% had seen sexual violence committed against female colleagues. Over the past few weeks, after Basel-based gender researcher Franziska Schutzbach and some of her colleagues began using the hashtag #SchweizerAufschrei, or “Swiss outcry”, on social media sites, people across Switzerland began offering everyday examples of sexism levelled against women. Parliamentarian Min Li Marti of the left-wing Social Democrats chimed in with her own experience, saying she had been told by male colleagues that “this topic is just too complicated, maybe your husband can explain it to you”. (Marti’s husband, Balthasar Glättli, also serves in parliament). Marti’s fellow Social Democrat Mattea Meyer tweeted about “parliamentary ‘colleagues’ who snicker and ask when there will be naked photos of you”. Many other female parliamentarians from Switzerland told the Blick tabloid of their experiences with sexual harassment on the job. Claudine Esseiva of the centre-right Radicals said she has been directly propositioned by male members of both the House and Senate. Social Democrat Yvonne Feri reported similar advances made by journalists who asked her whether she wanted to sleep with them. And the speaker of the House of Representatives, Christa Markwalder of the Radicals, says she’s been the victim of “sexist statements at the lowest level”. Threats and recommended action According to the IPU study, the situation abroad appears to also involve threats of physical violence against women parliamentarians. Nearly 45% of those surveyed said they had been threatened with death, rape, beatings or abduction. One politician from Asia reported receiving threats about kidnapping her son, while another from sub-Saharan Africa said she is constantly asked whether she is a lesbian and “accused of being aggressive and a bad mother”. Nearly 40% of respondents said the harassment affects their ability to carry out their parliamentary mandates, with some reporting having to adjust their schedules and physical movements to avoid potential violence and intimidation. About 60% of the survey respondents believe the sexist acts are due to clear-cut positions they had taken on specific issues, and 61% think the acts are meant to dissuade them and their female colleagues from continuing in politics, according to the IPU. Only about 40% of respondents reported having been targeted because of a political rivalry. To counter and address harassment against female politicians, the IPU recommends that governments strengthen laws and parliamentary codes of conduct and that the media undergo sensitivity training with regard to reporting on women politicians. The study concluded that having more women in parliament “helps to change the political culture” and that “once the phenomenon is visible and recognized, solutions either exist or can be found”. The IPU, an international organisation representing parliaments around the world, interviewed 55 female politicians from 39 countries for its first study on sexism in parliament. It also gathered data from 42 global parliaments about structures in place to prevent sexual harassment and violence.

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Del Ponte urges Switzerland to welcome more Syrians

This content was published on Oct 25, 2016 “With the exception of Italy, Europe does too little for Syrian refugees,” said Del Ponte in an interview in the Le Temps newspaper on Tuesday. “The EU and Switzerland are rich and could welcome many more Syrians who are fleeing the war. These are people who have lost everything, who are hoping to save their…

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Swiss seek closer cooperation with Norway

This content was published on Oct 24, 2016 Switzerland and Norway are considering boosting cooperation in development aid, human rights, security and peace promotion.

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Slovak President talks Swiss-EU relations

This content was published on Oct 21, 2016 The presidents of Switzerland and Slovakia – which currently holds the Council of the European Union presidency – have been holding talks in Bern.

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Swiss call for collective responsibility over Syria

This content was published on Oct 21, 2016 Switzerland has called for “not remaining passive” faced with the escalating violence in Syria at a special session of the UN Human Rights Council.

Valentina Matviyenko approved military operations in Ukraine in both 2014 and 2022, as well as in Syria in 2015, casting decisive votes in the Federation Council.

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Barred Russian politician visit sparks controversy

This content was published on Oct 21, 2016 Valentina Matviyenko, speaker of Russia’s upper house of parliament, was invited to the Swiss capital Bern to speak at a political conference on the subject of terrorism. She used to occasion to defend Russia’s intervention in Syria. Marc Lindt, who is on the board of the Ukranian Association of Switzerland, told Swiss public television SRF…

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US ambassador asks Swiss banks to service Americans

This content was published on Oct 20, 2016 The US Ambassador to Bern wants Swiss banks to stop shutting out American citizens from opening accounts.

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US ‘closer to political crisis’ after Trump questions election results

This content was published on Oct 20, 2016 “Trump crossed a political Rubicon last night in Las Vegas, also to the detriment of his party,” argued the German-language Tages-Anzeiger newspaper. “The only question remaining is to what extent the Republican majority in Congress will be dragged into the wake of Trump’s defeat.” The French-language Le Temps newspaper argued that Trump’s response of “I’ll…

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Dear Swiss living abroad…

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Swiss ‘outcry’ reflects global study

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Del Ponte urges Switzerland to welcome more Syrians

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Swiss seek closer cooperation with Norway

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Slovak President talks Swiss-EU relations

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Swiss call for collective responsibility over Syria

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Barred Russian politician visit sparks controversy

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US ambassador asks Swiss banks to service Americans

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US ‘closer to political crisis’ after Trump questions election results

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