13.04.2026, Meinungsbeitrag: A strategy that builds bunkers instead of bridges
The consultation period on Switzerland’s new security policy strategy expired at the end of March 2026. In an opinion piece, our director Deborah Schibler criticises significant shortcomings in the strategy, including the fact that it ignores half the population.
The issue of “security” goes beyond purely military matters and is relevant to society as a whole. Yet the debate is being conducted in a one-sided manner, both within society and in the media. The opinion piece – “A strategy that builds bunkers instead of bridges” – highlights three key shortcomings in the draft strategy that are absent from the public debate:
The strategy defines security in purely military terms and ignores the lived realities of half the population, including those of women.
Despite Switzerland’s identity as a peace mediator, there is a lack of concrete approaches to active peacebuilding. The draft strategy responds to the geopolitical situation and growing insecurity with more weapons and military force.
Lip service to “Women, Peace and Security”: Although women are “implied” in the strategy and Switzerland is committed to the UN Agenda on “Women, Peace and Security”, they are neither explicitly mentioned nor anchored in the strategy.
The opinion piece was published in Le Temps on 10 April 2026 under the title “Et vous, vous sentez-vous en sécurité?”. You can download it from this page or click on the link below to open it in your browser.
On 12 April 2026, the opinion piece was published in German, French and Japanese on swissinfo.
You can find the original text in English and German on this website.
Read our position paper on militarisation.
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