https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Switzerland in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed The 2019 women’s strike in Switzerland was hailed by organisers as the largest political action since the 1918 General Strike. As women in the country prepare to march again, Clare O’Dea asks what has been achieved since then? https://www.thelocal.ch/20230612/opinion-has-anything-improved-for-women-in-switzerland-in-recent-years Mon, 12 Jun 2023 17:04:58 +0200 opinion-has-anything-improved-for-women-in-switzerland-in-recent-years Legally, there are only two sexes in Switzerland: men and women. But could Nemo’s victory in the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday change this? https://www.thelocal.ch/20240514/could-switzerland-officially-recognise-a-third-gender-status Tue, 14 May 2024 17:23:06 +0200 could-switzerland-officially-recognise-a-third-gender-status In Germany, Switzerland and Austria, women are losing ground in the fight for pay equity, according to a recent analysis from the Munich-based Ifo Institute for Economic Research. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240308/why-is-the-gender-pay-gap-so-big-in-german-speaking-countries Fri, 08 Mar 2024 16:05:56 +0100 why-is-the-gender-pay-gap-so-big-in-german-speaking-countries Given Swiss organisational skills and knack for efficiency, it is not surprising that the world’s oldest profession is micro-managed as well. https://www.thelocal.ch/20231109/five-things-that-reveal-switzerlands-unique-attitude-to-prostitution Thu, 09 Nov 2023 15:38:34 +0100 five-things-that-reveal-switzerlands-unique-attitude-to-prostitution The third national 'feminist' strike takes place in Switzerland on Wednesday June 14th, but what's it all about? https://www.thelocal.ch/20230609/why-are-women-going-on-strike-in-switzerland-on-june-14th Fri, 09 Jun 2023 14:03:54 +0200 why-are-women-going-on-strike-in-switzerland-on-june-14th LGBTQ organisations in Switzerland are concerned that without swift action, the country could become a haven for conversion therapy, which is banned in neighbouring France and Germany. https://www.thelocal.ch/20221202/lgbtq-groups-seek-legal-ban-on-swiss-conversion-therapy Fri, 02 Dec 2022 11:31:31 +0100 lgbtq-groups-seek-legal-ban-on-swiss-conversion-therapy Two men have complained to the European Court of Human Rights that prisoners and psychiatric patients in Switzerland are not receiving vegan meals. Here's a look at what's going on. https://www.thelocal.ch/20221101/why-are-vegans-suing-switzerland-in-europes-human-rights-court Tue, 01 Nov 2022 12:48:51 +0100 why-are-vegans-suing-switzerland-in-europes-human-rights-court When women in Switzerland were finally granted the right to vote at federal level on 7 February 1971, it was the culmination of a long struggle. But there was plenty more to do, writes Caroline Bishop, whose debut novel explores the ongoing fight for women’s rights in the 1970s. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210128/explained-what-happened-after-swiss-women-got-the-vote Thu, 28 Jan 2021 12:44:37 +0100 explained-what-happened-after-swiss-women-got-the-vote Same-sex marriage is one step closer in Switzerland, after the National Council voted in favour of the 'Marriage For All' initiative. https://www.thelocal.ch/20200611/same-sex-marriage-referendum-on-the-horizon-in-switzerland Thu, 11 Jun 2020 14:31:20 +0200 same-sex-marriage-referendum-on-the-horizon-in-switzerland As part of its plan to promote gender equality, Geneva has installed 250 pedestrian crossing panels featuring women. But why are many residents are complaining about the new signs? https://www.thelocal.ch/20200124/genevas-new-feminised-pedestrian-crossing-signs-stir-controversy Fri, 24 Jan 2020 18:46:18 +0100 genevas-new-feminised-pedestrian-crossing-signs-stir-controversy In terms of women’s equality, employment, political representation, and security Switzerland has been ranked the second best country in the world, in a new study. Would you agree? https://www.thelocal.ch/20191024/switzerland-is-worlds-second-best-country-for-women Thu, 24 Oct 2019 11:40:39 +0200 switzerland-is-worlds-second-best-country-for-women The recent nationwide strike by women should not be ignored and Switzerland should act to improve pay and conditions for women in the workplace, Swiss workers’ unions have said. https://www.thelocal.ch/20190709/switzerland-must-act-on-womens-rights-say-unions Tue, 09 Jul 2019 13:38:57 +0200 switzerland-must-act-on-womens-rights-say-unions On International Women’s Day, The Local outlines a few things you may not have known about the evolution of women’s rights in Switzerland. https://www.thelocal.ch/20190308/12-fascinating-facts-about-the-history-of-womens-rights-in-switzerland Fri, 08 Mar 2019 11:42:21 +0100 12-fascinating-facts-about-the-history-of-womens-rights-in-switzerland There should be no quota for the number of women serving in the seven-member Federal Council, a parliamentary commission has decided. https://www.thelocal.ch/20180112/initiative-for-female-quota-in-federal-government-rejected Fri, 12 Jan 2018 10:23:45 +0100 initiative-for-female-quota-in-federal-government-rejected Switzerland has dropped a whopping 10 places in the annual Global Gender Gap Report produced by the Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEF). https://www.thelocal.ch/20171102/wef-study-shows-global-gender-inequality-widening Thu, 02 Nov 2017 08:36:40 +0100 wef-study-shows-global-gender-inequality-widening A nationwide campaign to promote the benefits of equal parenting and stay-at-home dads launched in French-speaking Switzerland on Monday. https://www.thelocal.ch/20171003/mens-group-campaigns-for-swiss-fathers-to-play-larger-part-childcare Tue, 03 Oct 2017 13:33:25 +0200 mens-group-campaigns-for-swiss-fathers-to-play-larger-part-childcare Following the German parliament’s decision to legalize gay marriage, campaigners are hopeful a similar move will follow soon in Switzerland. https://www.thelocal.ch/20170630/hopes-rise-for-gay-marriage-in-switzerland Fri, 30 Jun 2017 17:16:24 +0200 hopes-rise-for-gay-marriage-in-switzerland A Swiss parliamentary commission is to prepare a study on gay marriage after the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP) on Friday failed in its bid to bury the issue. https://www.thelocal.ch/20170616/gay-marriage-back-on-the-discussion-table-in-swiss-parliament Fri, 16 Jun 2017 12:58:49 +0200 gay-marriage-back-on-the-discussion-table-in-swiss-parliament Ten cantons have signed a new charter vowing to combat salary inequality between men and women in Switzerland. https://www.thelocal.ch/20160907/swiss-cantons-sign-up-to-fight-salary-discrimination Wed, 07 Sep 2016 14:03:09 +0200 swiss-cantons-sign-up-to-fight-salary-discrimination The World Economic Forum, where only 16 percent of the delegates this year are women, on Saturday heard impassioned arguments for gender quotas to boost female participation in the workplace. https://www.thelocal.ch/20140126/davos-boys-club-hears-call-for-gender-quotas Sun, 26 Jan 2014 11:23:48 +0100 davos-boys-club-hears-call-for-gender-quotas