We engage in alliances with like-minded organisations in referenda in Switzerland on political proposals and initiatives on issues relevant to our work.
The danger of nuclear weapons being used is greater than it has been for decades. Russia announced that it would change its nuclear doctrine, i.e. lower the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons. For three years in a row, the nuclear powers have increased investment in their nuclear arsenals. Only a comprehensive ban can bring lasting security worldwide. Nuclear weapons – like armament and militarisation in general – promote armed conflicts. In no way do they contribute to comprehensive security.
The Initiative to Ban Nuclear Weapons (website in French, German and Italian) was launched 2 July 2024. We are co-sponsors of the Initiative to Ban Nuclear Weapons (“Atomwaffenverbotsinitiative”) because we consistently advocate for global nuclear disarmament and demilitarisation. Switzerland must fulfil its obligations, also within the framework of the UN resolution on “Women, Peace and Security”. We urge you to support the initiative and to contribute to a more secure world.
What it’s about
Switzerland actively participated in the UN negotiations on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and voted in favour of its adoption. Since it came into force in 2021, 93 states have signed it – including Switzerland.
But a signature is not the end of the story. To become a party to the Treaty, the Federal Council must now ratify it. Switzerland is still refusing to take the necessary steps and join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). In 2024, the Federal Council reaffirmed its position that no change of direction is necessary and that accession to the treaty is “not in Switzerland's interests”.
This attitude is implausible and incomprehensible. It contradicts Switzerland's humanitarian tradition and its role as an advocate of human rights – it also runs counter to the wish of Parliament.
What this has to do with the “Women, Peace and Security” agenda
The Federal Council's stance further contradicts the commitments it made when it signed UN Resolution 1325. Switzerland explicitly emphasised its support for the “Women, Peace and Security” (WPS) agenda in its candidacy for the UN Security Council and is a prominent advocate of the WPS agenda.
A centrepiece of this agenda is the equal participation of women in conflict prevention and resolution and in efforts to achieve security and sustainable peace. Disarmament plays a central role in this. Peace activists around the world cite disarmament and arms control as the main goals of the WPS agenda. This is the only way to achieve sustainable peace and comprehensive security.
Switzerland must commit to the WPS agenda in both its foreign and domestic policy and take appropriate measures. This is one of Swiss civil society’s main concerns, as stated in its report on Switzerland's implementation of UN Resolution 1325 published in 2024. Switzerland is already actively committed to implementing the WPS agenda in its foreign policy. Now it must also consistently adopt and implement domestic policy measures. Joining the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons would be a significant step in this direction.
Companies based in Switzerland should ensure that they and their subsidiaries abroad comply with human rights and environmental protection standards. Violations must have consequences; corporations should be liable for any damage caused. This is the demand of the initiative "For responsible companies - to protect people and the environment" ("Responsible Business Initiative"), which was launched in 2015. The demands of the initiative correspond to the practice in other countries.
We were part of a broad coalition of over 110 organisations that supported the initiative. Since environmental degradation and human rights violations have gendered impacts that disproportionately affect women and marginalised people of all genders, this initiative also supported a feminist cause.
The initiative reached the popular majority in 2020 but was rejected due to the majority of the cantons. The Federal Council's counter-proposal came into force in 2022. The initiators rejected it because it did not go far enough. In the same year, they launched a second collection of signatures after the European Union presented a proposal for an EU-wide corporate responsibility law at the end of February. Switzerland should not remain the only European country without regulations in this area.
Feminists on the Responsible Business Initiative (German, 2020)
We were part of an alliance of individuals, non-governmental organisations, politicians and many volunteers that broke a Swiss record in collecting signatures online in 2019 for its initiative "Against Arms Exports to Countries at Civil War" ("Corrective Initiative"). The initiative demanded: Swiss weapons should no longer be exported to countries that systematically and seriously violate human rights or to a country involved in an armed conflict. Furthermore, the Federal Council should no longer decide alone on war material exports – parliament and the people must have a say.
The initiative was withdrawn in 2021 after the Federal Council's counter-proposal was passed by parliament. The counter-proposal has met the majority of the initiative’s concerns.
In March 2021, a broad coalition of Swiss non-governmental organisations launched the referendum campaign against the "Federal Law on Police Measures to Combat Terrorism PMT" ("Police Measures Act"). As a member of the alliance, we argued against this law from a feminist perspective and also warned against arbitrary use of police power and endangering the rule of law.
In June 2021, Swiss voters voted 56.6% in favour of the Police Measures Act. Arguments and documents: www.nein-polizeigesetz.ch.
In view of the billions invested in the Swiss arms industry, the initiative "For a ban on the financing of war material producers" ("War Business Initiative") demanded that the Swiss National Bank as well as state and occupational pension funds and foundations should not be allowed to invest money in war material producers. The initiative thus demanded a legal ban on investments in the arms industry.
As a feminist peace organisation committed to demilitarisation, we support this initiative for several reasons: weapons always lead to greater insecurity, women are particularly affected by armed conflict, and weapons that remain in circulation after a conflict ends have been shown to lead to an increase in gender-based violence.
The initiative came about in 2018 and was supported by around 30 organisations. In November 2020, it was rejected at the ballot box with 57.7%.
The popular initiative "Yes to the ban on full facial coverings" was claimed to be about women's individual freedom and their protection from patriarchal constraints. We consider this ban dangerous: it fuels anti-Muslim racism and instrumentalises women's rights in political discourse. Together with our cooperation partner, the feminist peace organisation cfd, we argued for a rejection of the ban.
In March 2021, Swiss voters narrowly said yes to the popular initiative with 51.2%.
Das Schweizer Stimmvolk sagte am 7. März 2021 mit 51,2% knapp ja zur Volksinitiative zum Verhüllungsverbot. In der Initiative ging es angeblich um die individuelle Freiheit von Frauen und ihren Schutz vor patriarchalen Zwängen. Wir erachten dieses Verbot als gefährlich. Es befeuert anti-muslimischen Rassismus und instrumentalisiert Frauenrechte im politischen Diskurs.
Das Thema «Verhüllungsverbot» und die anstehende Abstimmung dazu scheint Feminist*innen zu spalten. Wie kommt das?
Am 13. Juni 2021 entscheiden Schweizer Stimmberechtigte über das Polizeimassnahmen-Gesetz. Zusammen mit einem breiten Bündnis von NGOs sagen wir NEIN zu diesem Gesetz.
