End of state funding for the country’s single public radio

This update covers events that took place between 1st November 2023 and 31st October 2024.

GENERAL:

UPR review

On 19th February 2024, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights wrote to the Minister of Foreign Affairs following the Universal Periodic Review of Liechtenstein held in May 2023, and the matrix of recommendations can be found here.

Marriage equality

On 16th May 2024, the parliament of Liechtenstein adopted an amendment to the Marriage Act to allow same-sex couples to enter into marriages. Same-sex couples who are currently in a same-sex registered partnership may convert this into a marriage or continue their current registered partnership. The law will enter into force on 1st January 2025.

Lack of data and of comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation highlighted by the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance

On 12th March 2024, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) published its report on Liechtenstein. ECRI expressed concern about the lack of comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation.

The report warns that the financial and human resources of the Association for Human Rights appear too scarce to allow it to effectively fulfil its statutory tasks in preventing and combating racism. The report also notes the general lack of collected data on equality, which leaves authorities without a solid basis for implementing informed equality legislation and policies.

ASSEMBLY

Demonstration for paid parental leave

On 8th March 2024, around 40 to 50 people gathered in front of the parliament in Vaduz, demanding the introduction of paid parental leave.

EXPRESSION

End of state funding for the country’s single public radio

On 27th October 2024, during a referendum, Liechtenstein voters opted to end state funding for the country’s public radio broadcaster, Radio Liechtenstein. 55.4% of voters supported the initiative of the small opposition group Demokraten pro-Liechtenstein to scrap legislation that would continue state funding of Radio Liechtenstein until the end of 2025. Demokraten pro-Liechtenstein advocated for the station’s privatisation, claiming it would foster a more competitive media landscape.

The government opposed the initiative, warning that it would be very hard for a private radio station to operate profitably in this small state of 40,000 inhabitants and possibly leave the state without any radio at all in the future. The government insisted that a publicly funded broadcaster was an important and reliable source of information and that it also had an identity-creating function.