On June 13, 2017, the Swiss Council of States adopted a resolution to  “amend the laws, ordinances and regulations so that Switzerland can no longer subsidize, even indirectly, development cooperation projects carried out by NGOs involved in racist, antisemitic or hate incitement actions.”

Didier Burkhalter, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs,1 initially opposed the motion when it was voted on by the National Council in March 2017. However, at the Council of States vote, Burkhalter supported the amended motion, and used very different terminology (see videos, in French, and analysis below).

The change in Burkhalter’s language regarding towards NGOs and NGO funding is clearly reflected in his acknowledgement of the problem of NGO funding. In March, Burkhalter largely ignored the problem, repeating the blanket claim that “Switzerland does not support organizations that incite hatred or racism,” and that there was there was no reason to change the regulations, since “legislation to regulate this aspect already exists…concrete instruments for the management of this delicate problem already exist.”

In contrast, in his speech in June, Burkhalter explained that the change in his position was the result of a number of factors: “The first reason is that the problem is real. There has always been a risk in this area…So we have to take more stringent measures than we have before, which we do. We are working in this direction and these measures need to be taken operationally. The motion helps us to move in that direction.” NGOs, he added, must use Swiss funds “exclusively for what was agreed upon and that their work is not, in one way or another, even indirectly, diverted to actions that can be understood as related to violence.”

Burkhalter outlined extensive changes in policy, including additional measures included in the contracts with NGOs, announcing that “there will be a clause prohibiting all form of discrimination, racism, incitement to hatred. This is identical to what is already in current contracts for the struggle against corruption,” and in parallel, Switzerland “will also strengthen the risk analysis before any contract is signed,” and that “we will continue to strengthen all aspects of surveillance.”

Other changes in language can be found in the table below.

At the same time, however, Burkhalter’s June speech problematically described BDS (boycott, divestment, and sanctions) campaigns as simply criticism of the Israeli government. In fact, BDS is form of warfare rooted in double standards that condemn a single country for isolation and pariah status. Through false comparisons to apartheid South Africa, BDS activists attempt to transform a complex political and territorial dispute into a question of racial discrimination, while whitewashing Palestinian terror and rejectionism. In a June speech in the Council of States Burkhalter also noted that Switzerland has “already strengthened contracts with Israeli and Palestinian non-governmental organizations, including, of course, the institute that manages the group of donors of which we are members.” (Burkhalter is referring to the Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Secretariat [Secretariat], a joint funding mechanism of the governments of Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, and the Netherlands. In early June 2017, Switzerland extended its support of the Secretariat through June 2018, adding approximately CHF 1 million to the budget. Denmark and the Netherlands have, to different degrees, frozen funding and initiated investigations regarding Secretariat policies, while Norway withdrew completely, thereby highlighting these concerns.)

Changes in Burkhalter’s speeches:

 MarchJune
Types of Partners“Switzerland does not support organizations that incite hatred or racism.”“The risk of misconduct has increased’ especially in zones of crises. The Swiss government will strengthen the monitoring in regard with "the evolution of the disinformation… due to the evolution of our society and of technology”
Change of regulationsThere is no need to change the legislation according to the motion since “legislation to regulate this aspect already exists, in particular the Development Cooperation Ordinance, which regulates the possibility of working with NGOs and controlling the allocation of financial resources…concrete instruments for the management of this delicate problem already exist.”Supports the amended motion and declares that “a set of measures…in link with the motion” will be taken. In the contracts with its NGO partners, “there will be a clause prohibiting all form of discrimination, racism, incitement to hatred. This is identical to what is already in current contracts for the struggle against corruption.”

“We will also strengthen the risk analysis before any contract is signed.”

“We will continue to strengthen all aspects of surveillance.” 
BDS“It is not associated with BDS boycott movements - Boycott Divestment Sanctions. ““In the text [the one before it has been amended to remove references to BDS], it is said in a manner of speaking that when a government feels it is called into question, provoked by an organization…then Switzerland cannot support it [the organization]. Such disposition would sweep all possibility for the civil society to criticize governments.”
Acknowledgment of the problem“Switzerland does not support organizations that incite hatred or racism.”“The first reason is that the problem is real. There has always been a risk in this area. But for some time now, There are even more risks in our world - maybe I'll come back briefly to that, because I think it's a reality that is growing. So we have to take more stringent measures than we have before, which we do. We are working in this direction and these measures need to be taken operationally. The motion helps us to move in that direction.” 

“obviously with the aim of advancing the values ​​of our Constitution and for which these organizations are requested, use the means exclusively for what was agreed upon and that their work is not, in one way or another, even indirectly, diverted to actions that can be understood as related to violence.”

Swiss Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Burkhalter speech March 2017 (French)

Swiss Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Burkhalter speech June 2017 (French)