Switzerland

Switzerland is one of the richest countries and therefore invests a lot in child-related projects. However, not all children benefit equally, but money is rather put in projects for Swiss children without special needs. While a free school system and low costs for health services support Swiss children, for children with disabilities, and refugee or sans-papiers children, there is a lot that could be fixed with more money going into the tackling of the problems, for example better early childhood education for children with disabilities or better accommodation for asylum-seeking children.

About 22.000 girls are living in the State party who are affected or threatened by genital mutilation. Therefore, the Committee recommends to continue and strengthen preventive and protective measures to address female genital mutilation, including training of relevant professionals, awareness-raising programmes and the prosecution of perpetrators of these acts.

The Committee is concerned about the inadequate inclusion of those children in mainstream education in all cantons, and the insufficient human and financial resources allocated to ensure the adequate functioning of the system of inclusive education in practice. They recommend to strengthen the efforts to ensure State-wide inclusive education without discrimination. They further recommend to ensure that children with disabilities have access to early childhood education and care, early development programmes and inclusive vocational training opportunities in all cantons, and also address the specific needs of children with autism spectrum disorders in all cantons, and in particular ensure that they are fully integrated into all areas of social life.

While welcoming the reduced health insurance premiums for children by at least 50 per cent for families with low or medium incomes, the Committee is concerned that problems of overweight children and obesity among children are increasing, and advertising of food high in fat, sugar and salt on children’s television programmes is excessive.

To prevent suicides, the Committee recommends that the State party expedite the adoption of the national action plan on the prevention of suicide, which should take into account the specific needs of children and adolescents, and ensure its effective implementation.

The Committee is concerned about the excessive diagnosis of ADHD and other behavioural specificities, and recommends to carry out research on non-drug approaches.

The Committee is concerned that the State party solely relies on voluntary self-regulation of businesses and does not provide a regulatory framework. To improve the situation, the Committee recommends to establish a clear regulatory framework for industries operating in the State party, to ensure that their activities do not negatively affect human rights or endanger environmental, labour and other standards, especially those relating to children’s rights. They should also be legally accountable for violations of children’s rights and human rights.

The Committee recommends to strengthen its efforts to ensure that the right of the child to be heard applies to all judicial and administrative proceedings affecting children and that due weight is given to their views.

The Committee recommends that the State party collect data and undertake a study on the situation of children with a parent in prison in the State party, with a view to ensuring personal relations between children and the parent.

To achieve juvenile justice, the Committee recommends to ensure that children have access to free legal or other appropriate assistance and expedite the process of establishing adequate detention facilities in order to ensure that children are not detained with adults.

Switzerland is one of the wealthiest economies in the world and invests sizeable amounts of resources in child-related programmes. Unfortunately, the Convention is not very well known among children, parents and the public at large.

The Committee is concerned that children born in the State party, who would otherwise be stateless, are not guaranteed the right to acquire Swiss nationality.