Media

The WTO is heading for a major political failure in its response to the coronavirus pandemic. As its 12th Ministerial Conference opens the day after tomorrow in Geneva, member states are unable to agree on India and South Africa's request to suspend intellectual property rights on vaccines, tests and anti-covid drugs. Through its systematic blocking, Switzerland is at the forefront of this multilateral failure, which offers no coherent solution for equitable access to means of fighting health crises.

After the USA, Switzerland is the world’s most opaque financial centre. This is clear from the new Financial Secrecy Index of the Tax Justice Network (TJN).

Switzerland is not on course for a sustainable world. That's the verdict from Platform Agenda 2030 in its new report, out today. It is calling upon the Federal Council to show more leadership in the transformation needed.

There is a new SECO initiative designed to mobilise private capital for developing countries. It raises several questions about governance and development impacts.

New members, a new Director and a new Presidency – all signal the dawn of a new era in the 50-year history of Alliance Sud. In the light of growing inequality and a civil society that is coming under ever greater pressure around the world, it is more crucial than ever to have a powerful voice in development policy in Switzerland.

The WTO Ministerial Conference, to be held in Geneva from 30 November to 3 December, will discuss the temporary waiver of intellectual property protection on vaccines, tests and anti-covid drugs. We urge the Swiss government to stop its systematic blocking at the WTO, which has been going on for over a year. For their part, we also urge pharmaceutical companies to share their know-how without restriction.

The agribusiness group Socfin shifts profits from commodity production to the low-tax canton of Fribourg. This tax avoidance goes hand in hand with profit maximisation at the expense of the population in the affected regions in Africa and Asia.

The Board of Alliance Sud has elected Andreas Missbach as the new Director. He takes over from Mark Herkenrath, who left Alliance Sud at the end of July. Andreas Missbach will take office on 1 January 2022.

Dear reader, please vote "Yes" to the Responsible Business Initiative on 29 November – for the sake of people and the environment, to protect human rights and nature!