War and armed conflict make it even more difficult to protect people from the coronavirus and its consequences, according to the declaration adopted on Wednesday by 129 votes to 44 with 4 abstentions.
A ceasefire is absolutely necessary for the fight against the pandemic, foreign affairs committee spokesman Fabian Molina told the extraordinary parliamentary session.
Given the consequences of the coronavirus crisis on medical care in wealthy countries, one can only imagine what this would look like in countries in conflict and crisis, said Social Democrat Brigitte Crottaz.
Only the right-wing Swiss People’s Party voted against the declaration, fearing that it would imply “distributing even more money that we urgently need in Switzerland”, according to Roland Büchel.
“We are aware that the weapons will probably not be silent immediately,” admitted Roland Fischer of the centrist Liberal Green party. But he said it was an important sign of solidarity, a sign to the UN and the international community that everyone is in the same boat and that the virus can only be fought together worldwide.
More
More
Coronavirus called a ‘decisive test’ for the UN system
This content was published on
The pandemic is testing the limits of the United Nations system, say Geneva and New York-based experts.
Bodycams: essential for good law enforcement, or a privacy risk?
Did you ever come across bodycams in your place of residence and if so, how do you think the use of bodycams alter the relationship between the public and (transport) police?
This content was published on
Swiss wheelchair racer Catherine Debrunner won the 5,000 metres to bring home Switzerland’s first gold medal at the Paralympics in Paris.
Coronavirus: global scenarios, research and impact
This content was published on
A discussion of what Covid-19 means for societies, economies and the future with guests from the World Health Organization and the Graduate Institute.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.