Switzerland - International | International treaties adherence
 
 
 
INVOLVEMENT IN ARMED CONFLICT 
 
Current conflicts 
Peace operations 
Non-state actors 
Applicable international law 
 
LEGAL FRAMEWORK
 
National
Overview 
Legislation 
Judicial decisions 
Other
 
International
International treaties adherence 
Regional treaties adherence 
Judicial decisions 
UN resolutions and reports 
Regional organisations resolutions and reports 
Other  
UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review 
Switzerland
 
International | International treaties adherence
 

Switzerland is a party to most humanitarian and human rights law treaties. As the Depository of the Geneva Conventions, Switzerland receives, transmits and conserves acts and communications of state parties.

More information on the role of Switzerland as the Depositary of the Geneva Conventions (in French).

Last updated: 11 October 2009.

   
 
 Treaty List
 
International Humanitarian Law Adherence dateCommentary (including relevant reservations, derogations and declarations)
Geneva Conventions I, II, III, IV 1949

 31.03.50

 
Additional Protocol I 1977

 17.02.82

 
Additional Protocol II 1977

 17.02.82

 
Additional Protocol III 2005

 14.07.06

 
Hague Conv. 1954

 15.05.62

 
Hague Prot.. 1954

 15.05.62

 
Hague Prot.. 1999

 09.07.04

 
ENMOD Conv. 1976

 08.05.88

 
International Human rights Law Adherence dateCommentary (including relevant reservations, derogations and declarations)
ICERD 1965

 29.11.94

 
ICCPR 1966

 18.06.92

 Reservations:
 
 (a) Reservation concerning article 12, paragraph 1:
 
 .....
 
 (b) Reservation concerning article 20:
 
 Switzerland reserves the right not to adopt further measures to ban propaganda for war, which is prohibited by article 20, paragraph 1.
 
 ...
 
 (c) Reservation concerning article 25, subparagraph (b):
 
 The present provision shall be applied without prejudice to the cantonal and communal laws, which provide for or permit elections within assemblies to be held by a means other than secret ballot.
 
 (d) Reservation concerning article 26:
 
The equality of all persons before the law and their entitlement without any discrimination to the equal protection of the law shall be guaranteed only in connection with other rights contained in the present Covenant.
ICCPR - OP1 1966      --
 
ICCPR - OP2 1989

 16.06.94

 
ICESCR 1966

 18.06.94

 
CEDAW 1979

 27.03.97

 
OP-CEDAW 1999       -- 
CAT 1984

 02.12.86

 
OP-CAT 2002       -- 
CRC 1990

 24.02.97 

 
CRC Optional Protocol Armed Conflict 2000


 26.06.02 

 
CRC Optional Protocol Sale of Children 2000

 19.09.06 

 
ICRMW 1990       -- 
Disability Rights Convention 2006
       -- 
Convention on Enforced Disappearances 2006 [not yet in force]       -- 
Weapons Adherence dateCommentary (including relevant reservations, derogations and declarations)
Geneva Gas Protocol 1925

  12.07.32

 
Biological Weapons Convention 1972

 04.05.76

Declaration made upon signature in London, Moscow and Washington:

      1. In Switzerland, the Convention will not be submitted for parliamentary approval prior to ratification until it has attained that degree of universality deemed necessary by the Swiss Government.

      2. Owing to the fact that the Convention applies also to arms, equipment or means of delivery designed for the use of biological agents or toxins, the delimitation of its sphere of application may give rise to difficulties, since there are scarcely any arms, equipment or means of delivery designed for such use. Switzerland now reserves the right to decide for itself which auxiliary means come under this definition.

      3. Owing to the obligations resulting from its status as a perpetually neutral State, Switzerland is bound to make the general reservation that its co-operation within the framework of this Convention cannot go beyond what this status prescribes. This reservation relates especially to Article VII of the Convention as well as any analogous clause which may replace or complete this provision in the Convention (or in any other arrangement).

      *****

      On ratification of the Convention, the last two paragraph will be repeated as formal reservations:

      1. Owing to the fact that the Convention also applies to weapons, equipment or means of delivery designed to use such biological agents or toxins, the delimitation of its scope of application can cause difficulties since there are scarcely any weapons, equipment or means of delivery peculiar to such use; therefore, Switzerland reserves the right to decide for itself what auxiliary means fall within that definition.

      2. By reason of the obligations resulting from its status as a perpetually neutral State, Switzerland is bound to make the general reservation that its collaboration within the framework of this Convention cannot go beyond the terms prescribed by that status. This reservation refers especially to Article VII of the Convention as well as to any similar clause that could replace or supplement that provision of the Convention (or any other arrangement).

Chemical Weapons Convention 1993

 10.03.95

 
Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons 1980

 20.08.82

 
CCW Protocol I 1980

 20.08.82

 
CCW Prot. II 1980

 20.08.82

 
CCW Prot. III 1980

 20.08.82

 
CCW Prot. IV 1995

 24.03.98

Same declaration, mutatis mutandis, as the one made by Australia: "It is the understanding of the Government of Australia that the provisions of Protocol IV shall apply in all circumstances."

CCW Protocol II (amended) 1996

 24.03.98

     
Declaration in respect of article 2 (3):

Switzerland interprets the definition of "anti-personnel mine" as excluding any mine designed to explode in the presence or proximity of, or upon contact with, a vehicle, when such mine is equipped with an anti-handling device.

CCW Amendment 2001

 19.01.04

 
CCW Prot. V 2003

 12.05.06

 
Ottawa Treaty 1997

 24.03.98

Declaration of provisional application of article 1 (1) in accordance with article 18 of the Convention

       --
 Signature only on 03.12.2008
Refugees Adherence dateCommentary (including relevant reservations, derogations and declarations)
Refugee Conv. 1951

 21.01.55

  
Refugee Prot.1967

 20.05.68

 
International criminal law Adherence dateCommentary (including relevant reservations, derogations and declarations)
Slavery Convention 1926

 01.11.30

  
Genocide Convention. 1948

 07.09.00

 
Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity 1968       -- 
ICC Rome Statute 1998 12.10.01

Declaration:

In accordance with article 103, paragraph 1, of the Statute, Switzerland declares that it is prepared to be responsible for enforcement of sentences of imprisonment handed down by the Court against Swiss nationals or persons habitually resident in Switzerland.

 

Terrorism Adherence dateCommentary (including relevant reservations, derogations and declarations)
Convention Against the Taking of Hostages 1979  05.03.85

Declaration:

The Swiss Federal Council interprets article 4 of the Convention to mean that Switzerland undertakes to fulfil the obligations contained therein in the conditions specified by its domestic legislation.

 

Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism 1999 23.09.03 
Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings 1997 23.09.03 
Switzerland links
   
   
Wednesday, 08 September 2010
Copyright 2010 © Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, Switzerland 
webmaster