Switzerland

National Council

Political system
Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament
Bicameral
IPU membership
Yes

Specialized bodies - Gender equality

Science, Education and Culture Committee of the National Council November 1991

About

Nature
Permanent
Themes
Gender equality
Human rights

Members

Number of members
All Members 45 years of age or younger
Total 25 9
Male 12 5
Female 13 4

Chairperson(s)
(2023-12)

Person
Simone de Montmollin (Female)
Date of birth: 20 Jul 1968
Political affiliation
No information available

Committee functions

The Committee has the following functions:

Mainstream human rights into the work of (other) parliamentary committees and of Parliament as a whole
No
Mainstream gender equality into the work of (other) parliamentary committees and of Parliament as a whole
Yes
Scrutinise all Bills for their compatibility with human rights
No
Scrutinise all Bills from a gender perspective
Yes
Scrutinise the Executive’s policy for compatibility with human rights
Yes
Scrutinise the Executive’s policy from a gender perspective
Yes
Obtain information from the Executive about the justification for actions or inaction which affect human rights
Yes
Obtain information from the Executive about the justification for actions or inaction which affect gender equality and women’s rights
Yes
Scrutinise State compliance with existing UN human rights treaties
Yes
Scrutinise State compliance with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
Yes
Initiate inquiries of its own choosing
No
Scrutinise proposed human rights treaties, and other international treaties with implications for human rights, and report to Parliament thereon, prior to ratification
No
Scrutinise proposed treaties on gender equality, and other international treaties with implications for gender equality and women’s rights, and report to Parliament thereon, prior to ratification
Yes
Ascertain and review the Executive’s reasons for not acceding to or ratifying existing international human rights treaties
Yes
Ascertain and review the Executive’s reasons for not acceding to or ratifying existing international human rights treaties on gender equality and women’s rights
Yes
Scrutinise the Executive’s response to judgments of national, regional and international courts with implications for human rights
No
Scrutinise the Executive’s response to human rights judgments - of national, regional and international courts – that have gender considerations
Yes
Monitor the adequacy of the existing national system for the protection of human rights
No
Monitor the adequacy of the existing national system for the promotion of gender equality
Yes
Review the allocation and expenditure of funds in the State budget to support measures to promote and protect human rights
Yes
Review the allocation and expenditure of funds in the State budget to support measures to promote gender equality and protect women’s rights
Yes
Other important functions, please specify
No information available

Committee involvement in international and national reporting mechanisms

Such as the UN Human Rights Council and its' Universal Periodic Review, the UN CEDAW Committee etc.

Consulted in the preparation of national report to the UN Human Rights Council
No
Consulted in the preparation of the most recent national report to the CEDAW Committee
No
Included in the official delegation which orally presented the most recent national report to the Council
No
Included in the official delegation which orally presented the most recent national report to the CEDAW Committee
No
Discussed the conclusions and recommendations which the Council adopted as a result
No
Discussed the conclusions and recommendations which the CEDAW Committee adopted as a result
Yes
Conducted hearings with the Executive about its plans to implement CEDAW conclusions and recommendations
Yes
Conducted hearings with the Executive about its plans to implement the conclusions and recommendations of the Human Rights Council
No
Involved in the preparation of national reports to other international or regional mechanisms (Resolution 1325 of the United Nations Security Council on Women, peace and security, the Beijing Platform for action…)
No

Committee powers

The Committee has the power to:

Propose amendments to legislation
Yes
Introduce bills into Parliament
Yes
Initiate parliamentary debates on its reports or on subjects of its choosing
Yes
Carry out inquiries
No
Hold oral evidence hearings
No
Compel witnesses to attend
No
Compel the production of documents and papers
Yes
Make recommendations to the Executive
Yes
Conduct visits, including visits abroad
No
Access places of detention without notice
No

Committee working methods

The Committee:

Adopts an annual or longer-term work plan
Yes
Publishes reports on its work on the parliamentary website
Yes
Usually reaches consensus on the issues on which it reports
Yes
Systematically follows up its reports and recommendations
Yes
Reports regularly to Parliament on its activities
Yes
Number of specialised staff to service committee
3

Cooperation and coordination

The Committee regularly cooperates and coordinates (e.g. through sharing of reports; meetings; joint follow-up action) with:

Other parliamentary committees
Always
Civil society organisations
Often
National Human Rights Institution(s)
Sometimes
National Human Rights Institution(s) and National Institution(s) for the promotion of gender equality
Often
Academic institutions, including research institutes on human rights and the rule of law
Sometimes
Academic institutions, including human rights and gender equality research institutes
Often
The media
Never

Contact information for the Committee

Contact / Address
No information available
Phone
+41-583229922
Fax number
No information available
E-mail
Web site

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No