30 years of the Federal Act on Gender Equality

Date: Thursday, February 5, 2026

Location: Campus Biotech Geneva (Auditorium)

Program:

From 9:15 a.m. WELCOME, COFFEE

9:45–10:15 a.m. WELCOME ADDRESS
Prof. Audrey Leuba, Rector, University of Geneva
Dr. Stéphanie Lachat, Co-Director, Federal Office for Gender Equality FOGE
Dr. Susanne Kuster, Deputy Director, Federal Office of Justice FOJ

10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. THE FEDERAL EQUALITY ACT IN THE CONTEXT OF INTERNATIONAL AND EUROPEAN LAW
Prof. Karine Lempen, University of Geneva

10:45 – 11:15 THE PRACTICE OF INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS AND LAWSUITS FOR SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE
Dr. Anne Meier, lawyer specializing in labor law, Geneva

11:15 a.m. – 11:25 a.m. DISCUSSION
Moderator: Prof. Anne-Sylvie Dupont, University of Geneva and Neuchâtel

11:25 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. COFFEE BREAK

11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. PROTECTION AGAINST DISCRIMINATORY DISMISSAL BASED ON GENDER OR PREGNANCY IN PRIVATE LAW EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIPS
Prof. Jean-Philippe Dunand, University of Neuchâtel

12:15 – 12:45 DISCRIMINATION IN HIRING IN THE AGE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Prof. Kurt Pärli, University of Basel

12:45 – 13:00 DISCUSSION
Moderator: Prof. Karine Lempen, University of Geneva

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. LUNCH BREAK

2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. LOOKING BACK AT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LEg – HOW A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT BECAME LAW
Monique Cossali Sauvain, Head, Legislative Projects Unit I, FOJ

2:15 p.m. – 2:40 p.m. ANALYSIS OF WAGE DISCRIMINATION: THE LOGIB SOFTWARE EXPLAINED TO LAWYERS
Dr. Simon Hilber, economist, BFEG

2:40 p.m. – 3:10 p.m. WAGE DISCRIMINATION: HOW CAN IT BE MADE PLAUSIBLE IN PRACTICE?
Dr. Christine Sattiva Spring, lawyer specializing in labor law (FSA), lecturer, University of Lausanne

3:10 p.m. – 3:25 p.m. DISCUSSION
Moderator: Christian Bruchez, lawyer specializing in labor law, Geneva

3:25 p.m. – 3:40 p.m. COFFEE BREAK

3:40 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. INTERIM ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REVISION OF THE GlG AND FURTHER ACTION
Dr. Jeanne Ramseyer, Research Associate, Legislative Projects Unit I, FOJ

4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. EQUALITY LAW AND DISCRIMINATION BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR GENDER IDENTITY: WHAT ARE THE PROSPECTS?
Dr. Elisabeth Joller, Lawyer, Institute of Federalism, University of Fribourg

4:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. DISCUSSION
Moderator: Dr. Stéphanie Lachat, Co-Director, BFEG

4:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. CLOSING REMARKS
Mirjam Gasser, Co-President, Swiss Conference of Equality Delegates

5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. RECEPTION HOSTED BY THE FEDERAL BUREAU FOR GENDER EQUALITY