CEDAW/C/CHE/CO/4-5
(including the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation and the
State Secretariat for Economic Affairs) and representatives of the Cantonal Office of
Gender Equality in Berne and the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United
Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva. The Committee
appreciates the constructive dialogue that took place between the delegation and the
members of the Committee.
B.
Positive aspects
4.
The Committee welcomes the progress achieved since its consideration in
2009 of the State party’s third periodic report ( CEDAW/C/CHE/CO/3) in
undertaking legislative reforms, in particular the adoption of the following:
(a)
Federal Act on Measures against Forced Marriages, in 2013;
(b)
Article 124 of the Criminal Code, prohibiting female genital mutilation.
5.
The Committee welcomes the State party’s efforts to improve its institutional
and policy framework aimed at accelerating the elimination of discrimination
against women and promoting gender equality, including the adoption or
establishment of the following:
(a)
Gender Equality Guidelines in the Legislative Programme (2016 -2019);
(b)
Sustainable Development Strategy (2016-2019);
(c)
National Migration and Health Programme (2014-2017);
(d)
National Action Plan against Trafficking in Persons (2012 -2014);
(e)
Federal Programme against Forced Marriage (2013-2017);
(f)
National Action Plan on Equality between Men and Women (2010-2014);
(g)
National Action Plan on Women and Peace and Security (2013 -2016);
(h)
Guidelines on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, in 2013;
(i) Equal Opportunity for Women and Men at Universities/Gender Studies
Programme (2013-2016);
(j) Equal Opportunity at Universities of Applied Sciences Programme
(2013-2016);
(k)
Swiss Centre of Expertise in Human Rights, in 2011.
6.
The Committee welcomes the fact that, in the period since the consideration of
the previous report, the State party has ratified or acceded to the following
international and regional instruments:
(a) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Optional
Protocol thereto, both in 2014;
(b) International Convention for the Protection of All Person s from Enforced
Disappearance, in 2011;
(c) Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel,
Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, in 2009;
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