Global action against GBV (1 Oct)

Building solidarity – Global action against Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

Blocktober Day 1

1 October 2025: from Ros Thomas in Geneva

Imagine arriving in idyllic Geneva, the city of peace, diplomacy and stunning nature. Located in the southwest of Switzerland, it is surrounded by majestic mountains, impressive landscapes and idyllic old towns. A peaceful country of the 5 C’s.  Got them? 

Chocolate, clocks, cheese, cows and cash.

I see the impatient look on your faces. Surely the subject of gender-based violence has little validity here? Why be concerned when reports from our African continent are weighed down by terrifying statistics?  Not so fast.

Violence against women and domestic violence remain serious issues in Switzerland. Yes, the numbers are smaller but, the Federal Council considers the fight against gender-based violence a national priority especially as recent statistics show a clear incremental trend.  On average, one woman dies every two weeks due to gender-based violence, and femicide rates are notably higher in 2025. In 2024, Swiss police recorded 21,127 domestic violence offences, a 6% increase from the previous year, with women comprising nearly 70% of victims. Children are also particularly vulnerable.

Since ratifying the Istanbul Convention in 2018, Switzerland has committed to strengthening preventive and protective measures, ensuring protection for all victims, and improving the prosecution of these crimes. The Federal Council adopted the National Action Plan 2022–2026 for implementing the Istanbul Convention along with 45 countries and the European Union.  An interim report was published in November 2024 during the first National Dialogue on Violence, Gender, and Discrimination.

Legislative changes include revisions to the criminal law on sexual offences, civil measures against child marriage, adjustments to residence rights for victims of domestic violence, and the inclusion of a specific provision criminalizing stalking and digital forms of violence as a central component of domestic abuse in the Swiss Criminal Code. Planned initiatives include Switzerland’s first national prevention campaign against domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence and the launch of a three-digit victim support telephone number in May 2026.

 By ratifying the convention, Switzerland stands in solidarity with survivors of gender-based violence in South Africa as its prevalence concerns us all.

Clark and Ros will swim in Geneva, Switzerland throughout the month of October in support of the work of the Saartjie Baartman Centre for women and children in Manenberg. 

As autumn arrives and the lake temperature drops to below 20 degrees we will also swim the Nage Glaciale (ice or cold water swim). This event takes place each Sunday until 13^th December as the water gets progressively colder. This year funds are raised in aid of a local charity supporting family survivors after the loss of a child.

Nage Glaciale cold water swimmers (10 degrees), Lake Geneva, December 2024

Read other blogs in the series

October Walk Details in Cape Town

• Date: 2 October 6.00am
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Duration: 2.5hrs, 7.5km
• Route Vredehoek Jeep Track: From Vredehoek (mountain end of Chelmsford Rd), to Blockhouse and back. Click this PIN for starting point.

Click here to join future walks.