Each canton has an equal treatment office, more equal pay measures and an adjustment to the crime of rape: these recommendations and dozens of others have been submitted to Switzerland by a UN commission on equality.
For the fourth time since 2001, the responsible UN committee audited the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (Cedaw) in Switzerland. That writes the Federal Office for Gender Equality (EBG) Monday.
Small SMEs should check pay equality
The UN Committee of Experts recognizes the reform of the law on gender equality and marriage for all. According to the announcement, the obligation for companies with more than 100 employees to conduct an equal pay analysis is also welcome.
However, because most companies are smaller and therefore not affected, regular pay equity analyzes are recommended for all employers. Switzerland is therefore obliged to further strengthen the economic autonomy of women. This should help prevent poverty among women in old age.
UN calls for a “yes only means yes” solution
Switzerland should also strengthen the equal treatment offices at cantonal level. Each canton should therefore have an Equal Opportunities Office.
The percentage of convictions for rape varies from canton to canton. The UN Committee recommends investigating the reasons and taking appropriate action. The committee advocates defining the offense of rape on the basis of the victim’s lack of consent, thus meeting international standards. This corresponds to the solution “Only yes means yes”.
National Council decides in winter
The parliament is currently considering a reform of the sexual criminal law. The Council of States wants a “no means no” solution. The majority of the responsible National Council Committee, on the other hand, is in favor of a solution based on the “Only a yes is a yes” approach. The National Council is expected to decide on this in the winter.
The Equal Opportunities Service now wants to analyze the recommendations together with the federal and cantonal authorities involved. An interim report on the progress of individual recommendations is due in two years, it wrote.
(SDA/tom)