How Switzerland became liberal on abortion – without noticing

October 11, 2025
Marc Leutenegger

From 2027 Switzerland’s health insurers will cover the full cost of abortions. The change passed through parliament almost unnoticed. Where does the country now stand in an international comparison?

“Cost-containment package 2”, the name of the bundle of measures approved by parliament in March 2025, did not suggest increased costs for Swiss health insurers. Quite the opposite. And no one would have expected a shift in direction on the controversial issue of abortion to be among those measures.

Continued: https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/demographics/how-switzerland-became-liberal-on-abortion-without-noticing/90132058

11.10.2025

News

Andreas Gafner

Bettina Balmer

Cost-containment package 2

coverage for abortion

insurance coverage for abortion

Mattea Meyer

public funding of abortion

Social Democratic Party

EUROPE – Geneva Shines Green for International Safe Abortion Day

Center for Reproductive Rights
Sep 26, 2025

This year, Geneva—the global centre of human rights diplomacy and home to the Center for Reproductive Rights’ Europe office—is shining green in recognition of International Safe Abortion Day (28 September).

From 26–28 September, flags carrying the message “Reproductive rights are human rights” and “Les droits reproductifs sont des droits humains” will line the Mont-Blanc Bridge. On 28 September, the city’s emblematic Jet d’Eau will be illuminated in green, the colour of the global abortion rights movement. These powerful public displays, made possible with the support of the City of Geneva, send a clear message of solidarity in support of reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy.

Continued: https://reproductiverights.org/geneva-shines-green-international-safe-abortion-day/

26.09.2025

Events/Campaigns

Center for Reproductive Rights

Europe Abortion Laws 2025: Policies

International Safe Abortion Day

Progress and Challenges

Switzerland – Thousands of anti-abortion activists march through Zurich suburb

With crosses, Christian songs and an oversized pram, around two thousand anti-abortion protesters marched through Zurich-Oerlikon on Saturday afternoon. The city police were present with a large contingent.

September 21, 2025

Dozens of police officers in full riot gear flanked the “March for Life” because left-wing extremists on bicycles tried to disrupt the “Pro Life” rally. Firecrackers were set off several times.

The police were able to prevent a clash between the groups. However, dozens tried to stop the demonstration several times, as the city police reported in the evening. They did this by blocking the road or pushing containers onto the road. The police warned the troublemakers and used water cannons and chemical irritants.

Continued; https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/demographics/thousands-of-anti-abortion-activists-march-through-zurich-suburb/90040257

21.09.2025

News

anti-abortion protesters

Gianna Jessen

March for Life

pro-choice counter protesters

Pro-choice and anti-abortion activists face off in Geneva

May 4, 2025

Several dozen anti-abortion activists took part in the public prayer for the unborn, which was conducted in silence. Some carried placards with anti-abortion slogans, religious images or photos of fetuses. Most held rosaries in their hands.

The prayer was organised by Eric Bertinat, a former right-wing Swiss People’s Party city councillor in Geneva who also chairs the Catholic Perspective association. He expressed surprise at the opposition to the prayer.

The counter-demonstration drew a much larger crowd. Around a hundred people came with banners and placards, but above all equipped with saucepans and whistles, to respond to this silent prayer with a lot of noise.

Continued: https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss-politics/pro-and-anti-abortion-activists-face-off-in-geneva/89259889

04.05.2025

News

Eric Bertinat

pro-choice counter protest

Swiss esports event cancelled after host team founder’s anti-abortion comment

By Euronews with AP
18/11/2024

An event billed as Switzerland's biggest esports competition has been cancelled after the host team's founder posted an anti-abortion comment on social media, triggering outrage that led three rival squads to pull out.

The “Take the Throne” event, involving a video game that features cars that score goals with a ball like in soccer, was to take place on 23 November at the Batiment des Forces Motrices venue in Geneva.

The uproar erupted after BDS team founder Patrice Bailo de Spoelberch - the initials of his surname form the name - posted the following on social media: “A woman who dares to use abortion should lose the right to ever have children.”

Continued: https://www.euronews.com/culture/2024/11/18/swiss-esports-event-cancelled-after-host-team-founders-anti-abortion-comment

18.11.2024

anti-choice stupidity

Patrice Bailo de Spoelberch

Take the Throne event

Europe

Switzerland

Activism

Swiss court ruling: only mothers have legal say in abortion cases

Switzerland’s highest court has ruled against the father of an unborn child, who had sued his ex-partner for terminating pregnancy at an advanced stage.

July 25, 2024
Sibilla Bondolfi, SRF

Abortions are legal in Switzerland if they take place in the first twelve weeks of pregnancy. If a woman has an abortion later, she is punished with up to three years in prison – unless she was deemed to be in an emergency situation.

After a man from the Swiss canton of Fribourg reported his ex-girlfriend for a late-term abortion, the public prosecutor’s office dropped the case as doctors confirmed that the women was in a state of psychological distress.

Continued: https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/life-aging/swiss-court-ruling-fathers-have-no-legal-say-in-abortion-cases/84947125

25.07.2024

News

Amnesty International Switzerland

Abortion rate rises slightly in Switzerland

July 4, 2023

The number of abortions in Switzerland increased slightly last year from 11,053 to 11,341, bringing the rate to 6.9 abortions per 1,000 women. It has been rising again since 2017 following a drop after 2010.

Nevertheless, the abortion rate in Switzerland remains low in international comparison, the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) saidExternal link on Tuesday. Between 2020 and 2022 it reached a similar level as ten years ago. In 2021 the FSO registered a rate of 6.7 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15-44.

Continued: https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/society/abortion-rate-rises-slightly-in-switzerland/48640190

04.07.2023

News

abortion numbers in Switzerland

Europe

Switzerland

Swiss Health Insurer Under Fire for Offering Discount to Members of Pro-Life Group

By Bryce Baschuk
August 26, 2022

Swiss-based health insurance company Helsana AG came under fire this week for offering a 10% discount to members of the Pro Life Switzerland organization.

Members of the Social Democratic Party of Switzerland wrote a letter to Helsana’s management urging the company to terminate its contracts with the anti-abortion group, whose members sign a commitment not to carry out a pregnancy termination.

Continued: https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/international/2022/08/26/682276.htm

26.08.2022

Switzerland – Police attacked at anti-abortion demonstration

Police attacked at anti-abortion demonstration

September 14, 2019

An anti-abortion demonstration in Zurich has been disrupted by participants in a counter-demonstration. Police officers were attacked and containers burned.

At least two police officers were injured as a result of projectile fire, according to Zurich City police on Saturday. More than 100 people were briefly held by police and one was arrested.

Continued: https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/march-for-life_police-attacked-at-anti-abortion-demonstration/45229072

14.09.2019

Featured

News

anti-choice march

counter demonstration

pro-choice counter protest

Zurich March for Life

Europe

Switzerland

Activism

Anti-abortion demo held in Bern

September 15, 2018

Around 1,500 anti-abortionists took part in a “March for Life” rally outside the Federal Palace in the Swiss capital on Saturday, amid a heavy police presence. A counter demonstration in the city attracted 800 people.

The “March for Life” demonstration, which aimed to raise public awareness about the consequences of abortion, was organised by conservative Christian groups, including the Swiss Evangelical Network and the Federal Democratic Union of Switzerland (EDU/UDF).

Continued: https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/march-for-life-rally_anti-abortion-demo-held-in-bern/44401944