Swiss Animal Protection ventures a fresh start with reform group
Published: Tuesday, Apr 23rd 2024, 13:30
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The central board of the Swiss Animal Protection Association has decided to set up a reform group. According to the organization, this is intended to lay "the foundation for a positive future". A dispute at the end of January led to a scandal and the dismissal of the president.
The reform group consists of members of the sections and is to define the future tasks of Swiss Animal Protection (STS), design a suitable organizational structure and shed new light on the values that the association wants to stand for. This was announced in a press release on Tuesday.
With a particular focus on transparency, communication, giving the sections a say and a search committee for the STS presidency, the reform group is helping to realign and strengthen the STS.
A key feature of the reform group is its independence from the Board of Directors. This allows for open discussion and decision-making. It also ensures that the group can act without instructions and thus work impartially for the benefit of the STS and its members. A first meeting of the reform group is planned for May 2024, followed by an opinion survey of the sections before the summer vacations.
Quarrels, power struggles, nepotism
After two years in her position, the delegates of the Swiss Animal Protection Association dismissed association president Nicole Ruch on January 27. This was preceded by serious quarrels and power struggles. In addition, the certification body for non-profit organizations (Zewo) had placed the STS on its blacklist and advised against donations. Among other things, Zewo criticized the lack of transparency.
Specifically, it concerned the expenses and the accumulation of power by Association President Ruch. According to Zewo, there was also a lack of an internal control system, invoice control or approval processes in the real estate sector.
Over the past two years, there have also been internal power struggles and nepotism within the organization, which has around 70 sections nationwide, as Zewo further criticized.
©Keystone/SDA
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