Country Profiles
Switzerland
Context
Switzerland considers sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) to be a key factor for a person’s social, economic and health-related development and promotes sexual and reproductive health and rights for all, which includes empowering women, men and young people. Switzerland works through specific programmes and its active participation in international organisations to improve sexual and reproductive health, promote sexual and reproductive health rights, and support the health of mothers, infants and young children. For example, the SDC supports UNAIDS, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), and the sexual and reproductive health research programmes of several UN agencies and the World Bank. It is also represented in the executive councils of such decision-making bodies as UNAIDS and the UNFPA.
Policies & funding
Federal elections were held in Switzerland on October 2023, with the populist national-conservative Swiss People’s Party winning 9 seats resulting in a majority of the middle-right parties In view of the new legislative period, the Federal Council will adapt the new strategy on international cooperation 2025-2028. This defines the goals and priorities for development and economic cooperation, humanitarian aid and the promotion of peace and human rights. The draft of the strategy was published in summer 2023 as part of a voluntary public consultation process. The very good news is that health is included as a focal topic in this draft of the strategy.
The engagement of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) over the next decade will furthermore follow the Health guidance 2022-2030. It provides an institutional framework to guide SDC’s engagement in health at country, regional and global level. It defines focus orientations of SDC bilateral cooperation programmes, humanitarian action and global initiatives in health and serves as reference document for SDC, its partner organisations and the wider public. The SDC identifies two focus areas of work: 1. Advancing Universal Health Coverage and 2. Addressing the Determinants of Health. Focus 1 “Advancing UHC” includes interventions for strengthening health systems to better respond to public health challenges including maternal and child health and sexual and reproductive health and rights. In emergency situations, interventions targeting sexual and gender-based violence remain key priorities. Increasing domestic resources for health is another planned intervention among others. Under focus 2 “Addressing the Determinants of Health”, specific interventions such as in the area education and social inclusion are listed.
In 2022, Swiss official development assistance (ODA) totalled 4 billion Euros (4.3 million CHF),696 million Euros (699 million CHF) more than in the previous year. As a proportion of GNI, Switzerland’s ODA increased to 0.56% (2021: 0.50%) and is now at an all-time high. However, the increase compared to the previous year is mainly due to expenses related to the war in Ukraine and in particular to the costs incurred by the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) for persons in need of protection without a residence permit in Switzerland (S status).
Internationally vocal
Switzerland supports the advancement of SRHR at the international level, for example, in negotiations for multilateral resolutions. Switzerland has been vocal on SRHR in the Agenda 2030 process and the run-up to SDG 3 and 5. The country is also active in defending and advancing SRHR in UN bodies such as the UN Commission on the Status of Women and the UN Commission on Population and Development.