20 years after the 4th World Conference on Women: Switzerland takes stock at the UN session

This year's session of the Commission on the Status of Women, which will run from 9 to 20 March, marks an important anniversary – 20 years ago, 189 states at the 4th World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which aims to advance gender equality throughout the world. The measures decided in Beijing include efforts to alleviate poverty and promote education, health and the position of women in the workplace, and to protect women and girls from violence at home and during armed conflict.

Benno Bättig, Secretary-General of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), is heading the Swiss delegation. The deputy head of the delegation is Sylvie Durrer, Director of the Swiss Federal Office for Gender Equality at the Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA). The Swiss delegation comprises representatives of the Federal Administration and civil society as well as a young female delegate from the FDFA's "Youth Rep" programme, a Swiss National Youth Council (SNYC) project carried out in collaboration with the FDFA.

During the CSW plenary discussions over the next few days, Switzerland will present the current status of the country's efforts to implement the Beijing Platform for Action. Information on this subject is contained in the brochure entitled "Switzerland's gender equality action plan: results 1999-2014" (available in German and French) which was written following a parliamentary interpellation. In Switzerland, the most significant progress has been made in terms of the decriminalisation of abortion, compensation for loss of earnings during maternity leave, and the prevention of forced marriages and female genital mutilation. There has also been a considerable increase in the number of women attending institutions of higher education. On the other hand, action is still needed to improve work-life balance for women, ensure equal pay and reduce gender-based segregation in the labour market. Additional challenges that continue to impact women are widespread gender-based violence, a lack of representation in political and economic decision-making positions, and the unequal distribution of caring responsibilities.

The CSW is the UN's central body that addresses the issue of improving gender equality. It was established in 1946 and comprises 45 UN member states that meet once a year to assess challenges, measure progress, and formulate concrete measures.

Further information:

Publication: Balance Switzerland 1999 – 2014 (de)
UN Women
Women’s Human Rights
SDC-Gender Equality Network
Federal Office for Gender Equality

Address for enquiries:

Information FDFA
Bundeshaus West
CH-3003 Bern
Tel.: +41 58 462 31 53
Fax: +41 58 464 90 47
E-Mail: info@eda.admin.ch

Publisher:

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs