The Neutrality Council made its first appearance to the media

zf. On 20 August, the newly established Neutrality Council (see “Current Concerns” No. 14 of 14 July 2026) made its first public appearance. The Council comprises 12 prominent Swiss personalities from the fields of diplomacy, the armed forces, academia, law and journalism. At the press conference in Bern, several members presented the work of their council. This was followed by a session for questions and interviews. On the same day, the newly established council presented its second comprehensive publication. It is entitled “Missed Opportunities” (https://neutralitaetsrat.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/NR2-Sicherheitsstrategie-verpasste-chancen_de-8-26.pdf) and takes a critical look at the “Swiss Security Policy Strategy 2026” as well as the latest “Situation Report” from the Federal Intelligence Service (FIS).
    The media response to the presentation of the new Council and its publication was very limited; the “Neue Zürcher Zeitung” even went so far as to engage in vitriolic polemics (see boxes). We have therefore decided to document the Neutrality Council’s founding charter dated 25 June 2026. This will allow everyone to form their own view of what the Council’s actual concerns are.

Neutrality and international law are directly and inextricably linked

In the face of countless violations of international law the undersigned have decided to establish the Neutrality Council, the Swiss voice of international law tasked with defending, promoting and applying the principle, law and policy of neutrality in the general interest of the peoples, nations and member states of the international community as a whole.
    Considering that

• the concept and principle of neutrality have been deeply rooted in Switzerland’s history, law and practice for several centuries – from the early arbitrations of Nicholas von Flüe in the late 15^th century, through the Final Act of the Congress of Vienna 1815, to the Geneva Conventions of 1949;
• they have proved invaluable in preserving both the unity of the Swiss people and the country’s independence;
• they have given rise to a policy of active neutrality that is respected worldwide, particularly since the end of the Second World War;
• they have enabled Switzerland to become the cradle of international humanitarian law with the founding of the Red Cross by Henry Dunant, and subsequently the depositary of the Geneva Conventions, as well as a “power for peace”, arbitration, mediation and good offices recognised throughout the world.

Neutrality is also a legal principle that forms an integral part of both written and customary international law, and this law guarantees the neutrality of countries that claim it – and in particular Switzerland – thanks notably to the Act recognising and Guaranteeing the Perpetual Neutrality of Switzerland and the Inviolability of its Territory of 20 November 1815, the Hague Conventions of 1907, the Treaty of Versailles of 1919 and the London Declaration of the Council of the League of Nations of 1920.
    The law and respect for the principle of neutrality have been under constant erosion since the end of the Cold War in 1991, due to the increasing globalisation of economic trade and the resulting proliferation of multilateral platforms, bodies and institutions; whereas, in the field of collective security, the end of rivalry between the blocs has – initially – created a false sense of security and a decline in interest in maintaining effective neutrality that serves the interests of other nations.
    For the past fifteen years or so, the world has witnessed the emergence of new blocs and groupings of countries, leading to a resurgence of international tensions, growing rivalry between major powers, an increase in armed aggression in various parts of the world, the widespread occurrence of trade wars and a trend towards strengthening military alliances, all of which have a devastating effect on multilateralism, international cooperation and the individual security of the world’s nations. In such a context, the legal and political principle of neutrality regains its full meaning and utility, not only for Switzerland but also for other nations.
    We are convinced that the security, independence and survival of a neutral state depend existentially on a functioning international legal order. Neutrality is not a privilege granted by the powerful, but a status protected by law. When this law is weakened, ignored or applied selectively, the protection it affords to neutral nations is diminished. A neutral country therefore has not only a moral but also a vital interest in the integrity, universality and impartial application of international law.
    That is why we have set ourselves the primary objective of observing and identifying violations of international law wherever they occur, regardless of who commits them, to name those responsible with impartiality towards all parties, and to make clear recommendations on how Switzerland, as a neutral country, should respond to such violations in order to preserve both its credibility and its respect for the legal order upon which its neutrality is based.
    We are particularly determined to work with the international community to promote peace and human dignity;
    We reaffirm our commitment to advancing the purposes and principles of the United Nations, and to working for international peace and security, which are necessary to enable the enjoyment of all human rights in Switzerland and elsewhere in the world, including the right to development. We are committed to upholding the rule of law and strengthening the various democratic systems, in particular by promoting the right to a popular initiative and encouraging the regular holding of popular consultations and referendums;
    We reaffirm the importance of remaining non-aligned, of observing strict impartiality, and of serving no interest other than that of facilitating peaceful and positive solutions for all parties to a conflict;
    We adhere to the purposes and principles set out in the Charter of the United Nations, in particular the promotion of peace, human rights and development, whilst respecting the sovereignty of other States and the right of peoples to self-determination;
    We reject the concept of the “clash of civilisations” and wish to contribute to fruitful cooperation between all cultures and civilisations, in accordance with the spirit of UNESCO and the conviction that education for peace and mediation is essential. As stated in the preamble to the UNESCO Constitution: “Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed”;
    We reject policies of confrontation, provocations and the threat or use of force, which are prohibited by Article 2, paragraph 4, of the United Nations Charter. On the contrary, we demand the daily application of the obligation to settle disputes by peaceful means, in accordance with Article 2, paragraph 3, of the Charter;
    We embrace the motto of the International Labour Organisation, founded in 1919 under the auspices of the League of Nations in Geneva: si vis pacem, cole iustitiam (“if you want peace, we must first cultivate justice”). Similarly, we consider that the policy of neutrality entails respect for the principle of audiatur et altera pars (“the other party must also be heard”);
    We are committed to the need for global disarmament, believe in the vision of a world free from nuclear weapons, and promote the concept of disarmament in the service of equitable development for all humanity;
    We have set ourselves the task of working actively for peace and justice, of speaking the truth to those in power, and of rejecting short-term policies that ultimately erode human rights and international solidarity;
    We are convinced that, in practical terms, neutrality requires a refusal to participate indirectly in foreign conflicts and entails not only refraining from supplying arms or military intelligence to the warring parties, but also refraining from becoming complicit in information warfare, from disseminating false information, a falsified history, a distorted interpretation of the law or any other form of propaganda emanating from the parties to the conflict. It also entails refraining from applying extraterritorial measures adopted by foreign states, such as unilateral coercive measures (i.e. economic sanctions), which are condemned every year by the United Nations General Assembly and by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Only coercive measures adopted by the United Nations Security Council have the force of international law and must be regarded as legitimate and enforceable.
    We believe that neutrality means neither isolationism nor silence in the face of injustice when serious violations of the Geneva Conventions and their protocols are committed, or when major powers are guilty of deceit and perfidy. We reject the «crime of silence», insofar as those who remain silent may be regarded as consenting to or complicit in injustice.
    Finally, at the national level, we intend to defend Swiss neutrality against any encroachment by internal pressure groups or by foreign governments and institutions. We believe that any rapprochement with, or tacit adherence to, a military alliance – even a defensive one – runs counter to the very spirit of neutrality, and that any Swiss citizen who is subjected to punitive or coercive measures by a foreign state without valid reasons and without clearly defined legal grounds must be defended and have their rights restored.
    Bern, 25 June 2026

Signed by:
Baud, Jacques, Colonel on the General Staff, Ret.;
Bosshard, Ralph, Lic. Phil., Lieutenant Colonel on the General Staff, Ret.;
de Zayas, Alfred, Prof. Dr. iur. et phil.;
Hanke Güttinger, Henriette, Dr;
phil. Koenig, Peter, economist;
Kruse, Philipp, Solicitor, LL.M. MLaw;
Linder, Wolf, Prof. em. Dr;
Dr Lottaz, Pascal, Dr Associate Professor;
Martin, Georges, former Swiss Ambassador;
Mettan, Guy, Journalist and politician;
Roca, René, Dr phil.;
Ruch, Jean-Daniel, former Swiss Ambassador

Source:https://neutralitaetsrat.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/NR-Founding-Charter.pdf