Research brief: Switzerland’s foreign policy and the UNDROP

This Research Brief was written in the framework of the Coalition of Swiss organizations “Friends of the Declaration”, it was first published in August 2022. The coalition “Friends of the Declaration” was created following the adoption of the UNDROP in 2018, and aims to ensure that the rights enshrined in the Declaration are implemented by Switzerland in both its domestic and foreign policies. The publication below looks specifically at Switzerland’s foreign policy, its impact on the rights of peasants in Switzerland and in the rest of the world, and how to align this policy with the rights of the UNDROP.

To learn more about Switzerland’s foreign policy from the perspective of the UNDROP, you can consult our publication: Putting Peasants’ Rights into Practice. You will find videos of many actors on the subject.

Introduction (excerpt)

The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants was adopted in 2018. Switzerland voted in favour and played a central role in the negotiations. This positive role should now translate into clear, tangible support for the implementation of the Declaration, both nationally and internationally.

This Research Brief presents measures that Switzerland should take in its foreign policy to support the implementation of the Declaration in Switzerland and abroad. Switzerland already takes steps to protect the rights of Swiss peasants and seeks to strike a balance between their needs and international regulations. As host to some of the world’s largest multinational companies, and as a respected partner in development and trade cooperation, Switzerland can have a real impact on the rights enshrined in the Declaration.