Children and young people have the right to voice opinions and the right to make their own decisions. UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein are supporting the call for the voting age to be lowered to 16 as part of parliamentary initiative 19.415.
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child enshrines various participatory rights of children and young people. These summarize the idea of participation, namely that the views of children and young people must be taken into account in all matters that affect them. They also lay the foundation for the right to political participation and civic engagement.
The submission of parliamentary initiative 19.415 by Sibel Arslan marked a first step towards the effective implementation of this right. The Political Institutions Committee of the National Council prepared a preliminary draft with the proposal to lower the active voting age set out in Art. 136 para. 1 of the Swiss Federal Constitution from 18 to 16 years of age. On 1 September 2022, the Committee commissioned its Secretariat to carry out a consultation procedure. This also gave civil society the opportunity to take a position on the parliamentary initiative and the preliminary draft.
UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein submitted a consultation response in due time containing the following comments: By adopting the amendments to Art. 136 para. 1 of the Swiss Federal Constitution, Switzerland would give young people a lasting voice and stand up for the progressive implementation of children’s rights. Although lowering the voting age does not wholly cover the participatory rights of children and young people, it is an essential step towards realizing these rights.
The full consultation response from UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein in respect of parliamentary initiative 19.415 Arslan can be found here.
