Switzerland

Specialized bodies - Gender equality

• Science, Education and Culture Committee of the National Council November 1991
• Political Institutions Committee (PIC) December 1991

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

About

Nature

Permanent or temporary (ad-hoc)

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Permanent

See historical data for this field

Related to Chambers

National Council

Themes

Gender equality

Human rights

Members

Chairperson(s)

(2023-12)

See historical data for this field

Person

Person details for the Chair

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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)

Often called “Commissions” and/or “Ombudspersons” in the area of human rights

View field in the data dictionary

Sometimes

National Human Rights Institution(s) and National Institution(s) for the promotion of gender equality

Often called “Commissions” and/or “Ombudspersons” in the area of human rights

View field in the data dictionary

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

[email protected]

Web site

https://www.parlament.ch/fr/organe/commissions/commissions-thematiques/commissions-csec