Fight against harassment –
Towards the inclusion of “stalking” in the Swiss Penal Code
The Council of States on Monday supported a project calling for obsessive harassment to be punishable by up to 3 years in prison.
Published: 12/16/2024, 7:53 p.m.
Nowadays, obsessive harassment or “stalking” usually takes place on social media.
KEYSTONE/Christoph Schuerpf
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“Stalking”, or harassment, must appear in the Swiss Penal Code as a specific offense. The Council of States took up the matter on Monday, by 32 votes to 7, on a project in this sense. The Federal Council is also in favor of it.
“Stalking” causes psychological, physical and economic damage, noted for the commission Céline Vara (Vert-es/NE). The phenomenon has grown in recent years, particularly because of social networks. Children, adolescents, but also women see their lives “rotting”, according to the Neuchâteloise.
The Federal Council also pleaded in favor of the project. However, Justice Minister Beat Jans warned against setting expectations too high.
Pirmin Schwander (UDC/SZ) was opposed, denouncing too broad a formulation. Daniel Jositsch (PS/ZH) considered that the project was unnecessary, invoking existing civil law instruments.
According to the draft, “stalking” must be punished by a custodial sentence of up to three years or a monetary penalty.
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