For the fourth time since 2001, the UN Committee responsible for the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) has reviewed Switzerland's implementation of the Convention. After Switzerland presented the Committee with its progress and the challenges it faces in fighting discrimination against women at a meeting in Geneva on 21 October, the Committee today issued some 70 recommendations for action to be taken by Switzerland
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UN commends progress made

The UN welcomes Switzerland's progress in equality through legislative initiatives, such as the 2020 revision of the Gender Equality Act and the decision on same-sex marriage. The report also acknowledges other measures to promote equality, in particular the 2030 Gender Equality Strategy and an action plan to implement the Istanbul Convention.

However, the UN sees Switzerland as having a responsibility to strengthen gender equality bodies at the cantonal level, recommending that each canton should have a gender equality office. The UN also sees a need for action regarding wage inequality: while it welcomes the fact that companies with 100 or more employees are required to complete an equal-pay analysis, it notes that this does not affect the majority of companies in Switzerland, which are SMEs. The UN therefore recommends introducing a regular equal-pay analysis for all employers, irrespective of their size. In this context, the Committee calls on Switzerland to further strengthen women's economic autonomy as a means of preventing old-age poverty among women. The UN is also critical of the marked cantonal differences in conviction rates for rape and recommends carrying out a study to determine the reasons for this and take appropriate measures. The Committee also calls on Switzerland to redefine the offence of rape on the basis of the absence of the victim's consent, in line with international standards. An amendment of the criminal law relating to sexual offences is currently under parliamentary debate.

The Federal Office for Gender Equality (FOGE) will now analyse these recommendations together with the federal authorities concerned and the cantons and clarify responsibilities. An interim progress report on certain recommendations is due in two years' time.

Switzerland ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women in 1997. Since then, it has reported regularly to the CEDAW Committee on its implementation of the Convention. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women is one of the core treaties of international human rights protection and is the most important human rights instrument specifically addressing women. Currently 189 of 193 countries are parties to the treaty.

CEDAW women's rights convention: UN issues recommendations for Switzerland