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GENEVA

Why have Geneva’s new ‘feminised’ pedestrian crossing signs caused such a row?

As part of its plan to promote gender equality, Geneva has installed 250 pedestrian crossing panels featuring women. But why are many residents are complaining about the new signs?

Why have Geneva’s new 'feminised' pedestrian crossing signs caused such a row?
Ville de Genève. Facebook page, Geneva Discovery

“In agreement with the cantonal transport office, a variation of six feminized pictograms will now cover half of the panels where male figures were represented”, Geneva’s authorities announced in a statement last week.

The new panels are part of “the policy of promoting equality between women and men and against LGBTIQ discrimination in the City of Geneva”, the statement said.

The signs show a pregnant woman, two women holding hands, as well as an elderly person, crossing the street.

Serge Dal Busco, State Councilor in charge of the infrastructure department noted that the initiative “goes in the direction of a necessary change of mentalities in terms of equality in all aspects of our society; showing diversity on official signs is not trivial, it is a concrete, visible and relevant contribution to global action in favour of equality”.

 

However, many in Geneva are critical of the project, arguing that women’s rights should begin with pay equality and not merely with pictograms.

“The signs are grotesque, useless and costly,” Geneva deputy Salika Wenger told Le Temps newspaper. 

Ana Roch of Geneva Citizens Movement pointed out that “the city is ridiculing itself by wanting to carry the weight of sexism on generic signs”.

Some also expressed outrage at the price of the project, which costs 56,000 francs.

“There are so many people in financial difficulties here and the city is throwing money out the window”, Roch noted.

The sentiment is echoed by a Twitter user who wrote, “What an idiotic idea! It shows that Geneva couldn’t care less about its taxpayers’ money”.

The criticism took Geneva’s mayor, Sandrine Salerno, by surprise.

“In thirteen years of politics, I have rarely had so many violent, misogynistic and conservative reactions to a project that is part of a broad plan to fight sexism”, she said.
 

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LAUSANNE

American tourist ‘violently attacked’ in Lausanne

A woman visiting from the United States was stabbed during a robbery attempt while sightseeing in the Swiss city of Lausanne.

American tourist 'violently attacked' in Lausanne

The attack occurred at the end of May, but the Swiss media reported it on Tuesday.

The victim, in her 50s, was “violently” attacked by a man with a knife while sightseeing in the Old Town, according to Lausanne’s newspaper 24 Heures. The attempted robbery was confirmed by local police.

The tourist was stabbed in the shoulder as the assailant tried to flee with her bag.

A local shopkeeper said she was “alerted by cries of distress in English” and witnessed the victim “lying on the ground and trying to defend herself against a man who was attacking her. The scene was extremely violent.”

Even though passersby attempted to intercept the attacker, he managed to escape.

He was, however, caught and arrested shortly thereafter. Police said the perpatrator was known for prior criminal acts.

This was the second case of a brutal attack in Switzerland  against a US tourist in a span of several months.

In February, an American woman was raped and beaten in Geneva. 

The suspect in that case lived in France and, according to the Geneva prosecutor’s office, was arrested “outside Switzerland.” 

Does this mean the two cities are unsafe for tourists?

Lausanne police said that no incidents “targeting tourists in particular” have been reported in the Vaud capital.

But reading about these attacks probably doesn’t fill you with confidence regarding your personal security in Switzerland.

Still, you should put these unfortunate incidents in perspective.

That’s because Switzerland consistently ranks among the least risky nations in the world, both in terms of personal safety and overall crime rate.

Not only is crime limited in scope, but other statistics also indicate that, in comparison with other countries, Switzerland is very safe.

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