Human Rights Council approves Switzerland’s resolution on the death penalty

Switzerland used this year’s autumn session of the Human Rights Council to continue efforts towards the worldwide abolition of the death penalty – a medium-term objective of Swiss human rights foreign policy. It tabled a resolution to this effect, along with seven other countries. The resolution was adopted yesterday, with 26 voting in favour, 13 voting against and 8 abstentions. Switzerland believes that the use of the death penalty is incompatible with international law and always entails human rights violations – affecting both the individuals who have been convicted and those who are close to them. The resolution focuses specifically on the issue of how the imposition and execution of the death penalty can be reconciled with the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading forms of treatment, for instance in view of conditions on death row or particularly problematic execution methods. A panel discussion on these issues will take place at the Human Rights Council in March 2017, based on yesterday’s resolution.

During the autumn session, Switzerland also co-initiated a panel discussion on the impact of the global drug problem on human rights. Through its commitment, Switzerland wants to ensure that due consideration is afforded to human rights issues at the UN General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on drugs in April 2016. One of the problems from a human rights angle is the imposition and execution of the death penalty for drug offences. Any efforts in the fight against drugs must, in addition, take proper account of the human right to health and, in particular, of access to controlled substances. This is one of Switzerland’s priorities ahead of UNGASS.

Furthermore, the autumn session gave Switzerland an opportunity to monitor the situation in specific countries and take an active role in developing suitable processes within the Human Rights Council. In numerous debates and resolution negotiations regarding the human rights situation in conflict zones, it consistently advocated respect for human rights and international humanitarian law, with special focus, among other things, on measures to ensure that human rights violations and breaches of international humanitarian law – e.g. in Ukraine, in the Middle East conflict, in Yemen, Syria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sudan – are brought to court. Switzerland once again coordinated a joint declaration on the human rights situation in Bahrain. Supported by 33 other countries, the declaration recognises the efforts of the Bahrain government to improve human rights on the one hand, and, on the other, addresses ongoing human rights violations. It calls on Bahrain to implement further reforms, respect human rights in a consistent manner and cooperate with the international human rights mechanisms.

The eagerly awaited investigative report by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the human rights violations perpetrated in 2009 at the end of the civil war in Sri Lanka concludes that there are valid grounds for believing that both parties to the conflict committed crimes against humanity and war crimes. The violations of which the government forces are accused in the report are particularly grave. Switzerland, which has a strong presence in Sri Lanka, was actively involved in negotiations during the autumn session over a resolution on Sri Lanka that welcomes the steps taken by the new government and emphasises that a mechanism including an international component and reforms to national legislation are necessary in order for the country to deal with the past in a plausible way. Both Switzerland and Sri Lanka itself, as well as numerous other countries, are signatories to the resolution that was adopted by consensus on Thursday.

At the end of October 2015, Switzerland will stand for election as a member of the Human Rights Council from 2016 to 2018.

Further information:

Brochure on Switzerland’s candidacy for Human Rights Council membership for the 2016-2018 term
Switzerland in the UN Human Rights Council
Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

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