A woman searches for firewood near the village of Angarada in Chad. The region is severely affected by climate change and food insecurity is growing. Caritas Switzerland provides seasonal food aid for very vulnerable households and strengthens their resilience in the long term by creating new sources of income. In this way, humanitarian aspects are supplemented with long-term development measures.

Political engagement

Caritas Switzerland is in favour of policies that take account of socially disadvantaged people at home and abroad. We are committed to this with well-founded analyses, clear statements, concrete proposals and work on solutions that bring us closer to a society based on solidarity.

Climate and development policy

Development funds decrease while poverty increases

For the first time in decades, poverty worldwide increased again as a result of the Covid pandemic. This alarming trend challenges the wealthy countries too.

The Federal Council has outlined in a strategy how it intends to shape Switzerland’s international cooperation in future. The contribution as a proportion of gross domestic product is set to decrease, despite the poorest people in the world suffering the most from the world’s current multiple crises. Caritas is working, together with Alliance Sud and other development organisations, to ensure that more funds are provided for the global fight against poverty – not less. Help for Ukraine is important and necessary, but it must not be at the expense of the poorer countries.

Questionable offsetting of CO2 abroad

The adoption of the Climate Protection Act in June 2023 was an important signal on climate policy. However, the current parliamentary de- bate on the CO2 law shows how difficult it is for Switzerland to reduce greenhouse gases. So-called offsetting abroad will continue to play an important role here. Caritas Switzerland has commissioned a study that analyses an official Swiss offsetting project in Peru. This raises questions as to how expedient it is for farming families in the Peruvian highlands to reduce their burden on the climate for Switzerland. It would be more responsible to reduce domestic CO2 emissions effectively.

The quote on government policy

«Thanks to the efforts of Peruvian farmers, we can continue to drive our off-road vehicles around Switzerland.»

Angela Lindt, head of the climate and development policy desk at Caritas Switzerland on the parliamentary debate on offsetting of Swiss CO2 abroad.

«Tribune de Genève», 11 December 2023

© Simon Huber

Social and migration policy in Switzerland

Serious gaps in the social security system

Switzerland has a well-developed social security system. But there are serious gaps in its cover- age. In a new position paper, Caritas Switzerland puts its finger on the weak points and shows how a decent livelihood can be guaranteed for all people in Switzerland.

With inflation, the sharp increase in health insurance premiums and rising rents due to two increases in the reference interest rate, the situation for people on tight budgets has deteriorated further. To ease the burden, larger premium reductions and rent subsidies are needed. The federal, cantonal and municipal authorities must respond.

Poverty is not a crime

By far not all people who are entitled to social assistance actually receive it. Some are too ashamed to claim it, or they do not know their rights. However, an important reason for failing to claim is that people without a Swiss passport fear that they could lose their residence status. The acceptance of the parliamentary initiative «Poverty is not a crime», which Caritas has also supported, has improved this situation perceptibly.

Protection status «S»

Around 75’000 people from Ukraine have been given protection status «S» in Switzerland. In view of the ongoing war, an enforced return is inconceivable. Caritas is calling for an early issuing of regular «B» residence permits. Moreover, it is time for the introduction of a new humanitarian protection status that applies equally to all refugees from war-torn areas.

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© Conradin Frei

Header image: A woman searches for firewood near the village of Angarada in Chad. The region is severely affected by climate change and food insecurity is growing. Caritas Switzerland provides seasonal food aid for very vulnerable households and strengthens their resilience in the long term by creating new sources of income. In this way, humanitarian aspects are supplemented with long-term development measures. © Simon Huber