Wirz for the EBG: Prevention campaign "Equality prevents violence"
On November 11, 2025, Federal Councilor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider presented the first national prevention campaign against domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence. The goal of this multi-year campaign, under the slogan «Equality Prevents Violence,» is to raise public awareness, prevent violence, and offer support to the various affected groups.
Domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence causes immense suffering in Switzerland every day, with negative consequences for society as a whole. In 2024, the police recorded 21,127 crimes related to domestic violence—a 6 percent increase from the previous year and accounting for about 40 percent of all crimes recorded by the police. Seventy percent of the victims were women. One in every two homicides in Switzerland occurs in a domestic setting.
Recognizing and Preventing Violence Early On
The campaign—developed by Wirz in collaboration with the EBG and a broad alliance of federal, cantonal, and municipal authorities, as well as civil society organizations—addresses the problem at its earliest stage. By highlighting everyday situations in which power imbalances become apparent, it sharpens awareness of early signs of violence. This is linked to the call to treat one another with respect and as equals. The campaign provides information and support services to victims, bystanders, and people who are concerned about their own behavior.
The message is not intended to be off-putting. On the contrary: it aims to encourage people to engage with the topic and reflect on their own situation. This is reinforced by the subtle imagery, which does not spell out threatening scenarios but merely hints at them.
Long-term strategy, broad appeal
The campaign is designed to run for several years and aims to make a difference not only for those directly affected but also within the broader social context. In the first phase, it is primarily aimed at victims of violence; in the second phase, however, it will also target those in their social circles; and in the third phase, it will focus on (potential) perpetrators.
The messages will be featured nationwide on posters and on social media—in all four national languages and in the most common other languages spoken in Switzerland (English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Albanian), as well as in easy-to-read language.
Client: Federal Office for Gender Equality (EBG) Campaign Technical Support: Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH). Campaign conception and implementation: Savoy cabbage . Media planning: webrepublic. Voice recordings: JingleJungle. Programming: Extra Virgin
Campaign website: www.ohne-gewalt.ch
