UN Special Rapporteur concerned about the new orientation of the Swiss cooperation policy

The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development presented his report on his visit to Switzerland at the 45th session of the Human Rights Council. CETIM intervened during the debate that followed this presentation to express its concerns.

As the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development rightly points out in his report, we are also very concerned about the new orientation of Switzerland’s development cooperation policy, which emphasises “the overriding interest of Switzerland”. However, as is well known, the foundation of a development cooperation worthy of the name is solidarity. This means supporting countries and peoples that find themselves in difficulty at a given point in their history by providing technical and/or material support that meets their needs in order to get out of it.

If each country favours only its own national interests, could we still talk about development cooperation?

Read CETIM’s statement in French

Read the position paper of the Geneva Federation of Cooperation (FGC), of which CETIM is member, on the draft Message 2021-2024 on Switzerland’s international cooperation (in French)

Listen to CETIM’s statement in French