This is reported by SWI
The Swiss parliament made an important decision by approving the inclusion of stalking – unwanted and intrusive pursuit – into the country’s Criminal Code. This happened thanks to a vote in which 151 members of the lower house supported the initiative, while 29 voted against it.
The Swiss Federal Council, which is the country’s government, also expressed support for this initiative. The final decision still needs to be made by the upper house of parliament – the Council of States.
According to the new proposals, stalking includes actions such as calls or messages at any time of day, threats in letters, unwanted gifts, and following someone on the streets.
If the law is passed, individuals who systematically stalk or threaten others, restricting their freedom, may face penalties of up to three years in prison or a fine.
On June 6, the lower house of parliament already voted in favor of amendments to the Criminal Code that define stalking as a separate crime, reports SRF.
During the discussions, the Federal Council proposed limiting criminal liability only to cases where victims are unjustifiably restricted in their rights, but this proposal did not find support in parliament.
Additionally, the government suggested that stalking cases be considered only upon the victim’s complaint, but this initiative was also rejected. The adopted draft provides that law enforcement can independently initiate investigations if the matter concerns marital relationships.
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