Sexist advertising in public spaces in Freiburg will soon be banned
On Thursday, the Fribourg Grand Council approved a motion calling for a ban on sexist advertising in public spaces. With the exception of the SVP and a majority of the centrist parties, the Council, following a lively debate, concurred with the State Council’s position.
The motion by centrist Carole Baschung and the Green Party's Alexandre Berset was adopted by 56 votes to 42 with four abstentions. The canton of Fribourg is thus following the path already taken by the cantons of Basel-Stadt, Geneva, Neuchâtel and Vaud.
The list of bans should therefore be added to Article 5 of the Advertising Act. "The link between sexist stereotypes, which advertising all too often conveys, and violence against women has been proven," the motion authors argued.
An end to patriarchy
The article will also include the Swiss Fairness Commission's definition of sexism. This includes, among other things, men or women who are tainted with sexual stereotypes that call gender equality into question. We must put an end to "patriarchy and its symptoms", said Berset.
For example, advertisements for cars or underwear would fall under the new provision. Opponents of the proposal pointed out that it is difficult to determine what is sexist and what is not.
Working group
In its response, the State Council supported the text. Its authority only applies to posters on public property and does not affect radio, television, paper and digital media, explained the Director of Spatial Development, Infrastructure, Mobility and the Environment Jean-François Steiert (SP). A working group will now be set up to implement the motion. (SDA)
