On 9 June Swiss voters will decide on the federal popular initiative ‘For freedom and physical integrity’.
In brief
Starting position
The coronavirus pandemic reached Switzerland in the spring of 2020. The Federal Council took some drastic measures to protect the population from the virus and prevent the healthcare system, especially hospitals, from being unable to cope. At the same time, researchers around the world began to develop vaccines against the new virus. Large sections of the population had high hopes for these vaccines and for vaccination as a way out of the pandemic. Others were opposed to vaccination. This initiative was launched in the political and social environment of autumn 2020.
The initiative
The initiative demands that the consent of the person concerned be obtained for invasive procedures that may affect their physical or mental integrity. Physical and mental integrity is already protected under the Constitution. The fundamental right to such integrity protects the body against interference by the state. According to the initiative, a person who refuses consent may neither be penalised nor disadvantaged. The text of the initiative does not refer to ‘vaccinations’, but to ‘invasions of physical and mental integrity’ in general. It therefore covers any actions by the federal government, cantons and communes that involve physical contact or that have an impact on a person’s mental state, such as certain police activities or the penalties imposed under the criminal justice system. The specific consequences of a yes vote to the initiative would depend on how it is implemented and the legal precedent that developed.
Last modification 03.04.2024
