Certification body advises against donations to Swiss Animal Protection
Published: Wednesday, Dec 27th 2023, 17:20
Updated At: Wednesday, Dec 27th 2023, 17:20
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The certification body for non-profit organizations (Zewo) has advised against donations to Swiss Animal Protection (STS). Among other things, a lack of transparency and high expense allowances were criticized. The STS finds the accusations incomprehensible.
The STS lacked an internal control system, invoice controlling or approval processes in the real estate sector, Zewo Managing Director Martina Ziegerer told the newspapers of CH-Media-Verlag on Wednesday. She also criticized the reimbursement of expenses for board members and the accumulation of power by President Nicole Ruch.
Over the past two years, there have also been internal power struggles and nepotism within the organization, the report continued. In September 2023, the central board of the animal welfare association suspended SP National Councillor Martina Munz (SH) and ETH agricultural engineer Michel Roux from the board. The two had repeatedly violated the principles of loyalty and collegiality.
"There is too little transparency. The accusations made in the media are a massive violation of Zewo's standards," Ziegerer told the Keystone-SDA news agency on Wednesday on request. Several Swiss media outlets had already reported on the STS in recent months.
The STS acknowledges Zewo's accusations, but has no sympathy for them, the STS announced in a press release on Wednesday. Under the new chairmanship since Ruch took office, the STS is undergoing a reform process. From 2024, a modern and detailed annual financial statement including a budget process and internal control system will be introduced, it said.
This will improve the internal regulatory framework for managing and monitoring the organization. In addition, the management of the company's own real estate portfolio will be outsourced to a new company.
The STS is not one of the non-profit organizations certified by Zewo. The central board of the STS will examine at a later date whether Zewo certification should be sought, it added.
©Keystone/SDA
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