Switzerland is not neutral on the death penalty 

Switzerland has made it a stated goal to abolish the death penalty worldwide. Its defenders, on the other hand, insist on national sovereignty and wish to distance themselves from so-called Western values. By 2025, Switzerland aimed to achieve a world without the death penalty. This ambitious goal was set by the country 11 years ago. “As long as the death penalty exists, we shall continue to fight against it,” said Didier Burkhalter, then foreign Minister, when the goal was set in 2013. The goal has not been reached, but the trend has long been toward abolition. Today, only a hard core of around 20 countries regularly carry out executions. The vast majority of countries have abolished or suspended the death penalty. This development is a historical breakthrough. Yet we are still far from a world without executions. China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the US still regularly execute people. Amnesty International reported 1,153 known executions in 2023 – an increase of 31% from the previous ...