Advising Cantonal Governments in Switzerland
on implementing the CRPD
Switzerland is a federal state. In order to implement the CRPD, each Canton needs to pass legislation giving direct effect to the Convention. Until very recently, no Swiss Canton has passed comprehensive legislation conferring individual rights against all forms of discrimination of persons with disabilities.
Markus Schefer and his team have been instrumental in convincing Cantons to draft such legislation, and have been intimately involved in writing and - in some Cantons - passing and implementing such legislation.
Publication: Guide to Draft Disability Rights Legislation in Switzerland
In order to give the Cantons the guidance necessary to draft legislation implementing the CRPD, Markus Schefer and his team are in the process of publishing a Guide to Draft Disability Rights Legislation in Switzerland. The guide is structured in two volumes: Volume I describes the processes to be followed in drafting such legislation, volume II sketches the requirements of the CRPD vis-a-vis the Cantons.
Basel-Stadt
In the
Canton of Basel-Stadt, the legislature passed the Law on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities on September 18, 2019, with a vote of 91 Yes, 0 Nos and 1 Abstention. It
entered into force on January 1, 2021.
Markus Schefer and his team
provided a draft for the law and ensured active involvement by persons
with disabilities and their representative organizations. He supported
the administration in their efforts to draft a proposal submitted to
parliament.
Link to the Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (1st January 2021) (in German, Website of the Canton of Basel-Stadt)
Valais
In the Canton of Valais, on May 6, 2021, the legislature unanimously (126 Yes, 0 Nos, 0 Abstentions) passed an
amended Law on the rights and the inclusion of persons with disabilities. It is expected to enter into force on January 1st, 2022.
Markus Schefer and his
team provided a draft for the law and provided support for the active
involvement of persons with disabilities and their representative
organizations. He supported
the administration in their efforts to get approval by the executive
council and parliament.
Basel-Landschaft
In the Canton of Basel-Landschaft, the
executive council passed a proposal for a Law on the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities on August 17, 2021 for public comment. It is scheduled to be
submitted to parliament in spring 2022.
Markus Schefer and his team
provided drafts of the law, negotiated with administrative bodies,
organized workshops for the active involvement of persons with
disabilities and their representative organizations, and helped to make
the case for the law in the executive council.
Geneva
In the Canton of Geneva, Markus Schefer and his team are in the process of laying the foundations for a proposal of a disability policy. They conducted two workshosp with persons with disabilities and their representative organizations. They submitted their analysis with a proposal to the Canton at the end of November 2022. They will be drafting a law on the rights of persons with disabilities for the Canton of Geneva in the near future.
Appenzell Ausserrhoden
In the Canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden, in May 2021 Markus Schefer has provided an initial proposal for the structure and content of disability rights legislation and for the process required to draft and pass such legislation.