Petition for legal protection in older age launched
The WiseLearn ecosystem involves a diverse group of people with valuable ideas, experiences, and initiatives. To give space to this engagement, we regularly open our blog to contributions from the community.
The following article was written by Erica Benz-Steffen, a member of the project team of “ Jedes Alter zählt” (Every Age Counts), an initiative against ageism in Switzerland.
VASOS (Association of Active Seniors and Self-Help Organizations in Switzerland) has launched a petition entitled “Legal protection against age discrimination – for a discrimination-free society for all generations.” This initiative aims to encourage the federal government to create a legal framework to protect against age discrimination.
In older age, there are situations in which one feels defenseless or marginalized. There are numerous examples of this that I know from personal experience: searching for housing and barrier-free living, public transportation, lack of a say in decision-making, and measures that restrict freedom – to name just a few.
The Swiss Federal Constitution protects against discrimination: origin, gender, religion, political beliefs, and age are explicitly mentioned. However, shortcomings in discrimination protection show that the legal framework and real life often diverge. International voices such as the OECD and the WHO are therefore calling for clear steps to be taken to combat this – and with good reason: age discrimination is not a marginal phenomenon, but a structural problem that affects people’s dignity and self-determination. When surveys say that age discrimination is more common than sexism or racism, that is a wake-up call.
What drives me personally: I want age not to be a factor for exclusion, but a phase of life with rights, dignity, and support. That is why I stand in solidarity with this cause and hope to find many fellow advocates who are committed to ensuring that every person — regardless of age — is heard, seen, and respected
I personally welcome and support the initiative of VASOS, and WiseLearn also stands behind it. By signing the petition before March 1, 2026, you can help bring about important changes in Switzerland.
About the author
Erica Benz-Steffen, former head of literary promotion at the Pro Helvetia cultural foundation, has been involved in various project groups on the topic of “ageing in our society” since her retirement. Among other things, she is part of the project team for “Jeder Alter zählt” (Every Age Counts), an initiative of the UZH Healthy Longevity Center to combat ageism in Switzerland.
Picture references
Centre for Ageing Better: Age-positive image library (o.J.). Older person working [Photography]. Retrieved on 04. November, 2025. Link zum Bild.
Freepik (o.J.). Geschäftsfrau, die in einem Bürodesktop arbeitet [Photography]. Retrieved on 04. November 2025. Link zum Bild.
