Politics · Switzerland · 10 hrs ago
Swiss Social Democrats launch initiative to protect women from violence
Switzerland’s Social Democratic Party launched a women’s safety initiative at its congress in Thun on Saturday.
The proposal aims to improve prevention and coordination between the national government, cantons and specialist services.
It calls for at least 500 million francs in extra annual funding to combat gender-based violence.
The party said support for victims now depends too much on where they live, and cited 27 women killed in Switzerland in 2025 and 18 so far this year.
Justice Minister Beat Jans urged men not to ignore or stay silent about violence, and said domestic violence is not a private matter.
The initiative was launched unanimously by party delegates, who said victims should be able to count on effective protection.
The party congress continues on Sunday, with a speech by Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider and elections for the party leadership.
Switzerland’s Social Democratic Party launched an initiative to strengthen protection against violence against women at its party congress in Thun on Saturday.
The proposal calls for at least 500 million Swiss francs in additional annual funding to combat gender-based violence.
It aims to strengthen prevention and cooperation between the federal government, cantons and specialist organisations.
The party says support for victims depends too much on where they live and that progress against gender-based violence is too slow.
Delegates approved launching the initiative unanimously.
- Who
- Switzerland’s Social Democratic Party (SP) launched the initiative.
- What
- It seeks stronger measures to prevent and combat violence against women, including at least 500 million Swiss francs in additional annual funding.
- When
- Saturday, 17 October 2026.
- Where
- The SP party congress in Thun, Switzerland.
- Why
- The SP says victims’ access to support varies by canton and that efforts to combat gender-based violence have made too little progress.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Annual funding sought
- At least 500 million Swiss francs in additional federal funding
- Launch location
- Thun, Switzerland
- Approval
- Unanimous among SP delegates
- Women killed in Switzerland in 2025
- 27
- Women killed in Switzerland in 2026 so far
- 18
5 sources
SP-Co-Präsidentin Meyer kritisiert SVP in Thun am Parteitag scharf
Parteitag in Thun – SP lanciert Initiative zum Schutz vor Gewalt an Frauen
SP lanciert Initiative zum Schutz vor Gewalt an Frauen
Mit 500 Millionen pro Jahr: SP will Gewalt gegen Frauen eindämmen
What people are saying
Schutz kostet Geld, aber Gewalt kostet Leben.
Damit muss jetzt Schluss sein.
Der Schutz vor Gewalt ist eine Aufgabe unseres Rechtsstaates und unserer Gesellschaft.