Councilors of States also want to ban blows in the face

The right of children to a non-violent upbringing must be enshrined in the Swiss Civil Code (ZGB). According to the National Council, this is also the opinion of the competent committee of the Council of States.

By 8 votes to 3, with 2 abstentions, the Legal Committee of the Council of States (RK-S) asks its council for a corresponding motion from the Freiburg Central National Councilor Christine Bulliard-Marbach (63) as the parliamentary services announced on Friday. The aim of the initiative is to better protect children from corporal punishment, psychological injuries and other degrading measures.

Almost every second child experiences violence

Bulliard-Marbach is very pleased that the legal committee of the Council of States has adopted the motion, she told Blick when asked. “It was not easy to get here. This is another milestone.”

According to a recently published study by the University of Friborg, almost every in two children in Switzerland experiences physical or psychological violence during their upbringing. However, the state government is of the opinion that the current legal situation in criminal law is sufficient.

Now the Council of States must decide

The Legal Committee of the State Council is different. She believes that enshrining the right to nonviolent education in the Civil Code would send a strong signal against all forms of violence against children, the Commission statement said. This could bring about a change in social attitudes.

According to the Federal Constitution, children and young people have the right to special protection for their integrity and to support for their development. By signing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1997, Switzerland has made a commitment under international law to protect children from any abuse by their parents or other carers and to provide appropriate prevention and treatment programmes.

The Council of States will deal with the motion below. She will do everything she can to ensure that the Council of State follows the legal committee and help the motion reach a breakthrough, Bulliard-Marbach said. “That would make a nice Christmas present.” (SDA/bgs)