Stories from Sion · Switzerland

The Grand Council of Valais has refused to commit to including femicide in the Swiss Penal Code. This decision means femicide will not be explicitly codified as a crime in the region.

The canton of Valais approved the shooting of a single wolf in the Fisberteminen area at the end of April, a decision that sparked intense discussions. The 'Gruppe Wolf Schweiz' immediately reacted, accusing Valais of pursuing an escalation strategy and acting unlawfully.

The Valais canton in Switzerland is providing financial aid for uprooting vineyards due to an ongoing viticulture crisis. Support includes 7,500 francs per hectare for flat terrain and gentle slopes, and 16,500 francs per hectare for steep slopes.

The Grand Conseil valaisan in Sion is considering a reform of the cantonal fund for vocational training. The reform aims to distribute financial training costs among all companies within the canton.

Technicians are rerouting cables to prevent a potential landslide from disabling the network. A 1.5-kilometer tube is being installed through a steep forest to bypass a fault area. This measure aims to ensure service continuity if debris falls on the existing lines.

The prosecutor of the Canton of Valais has opened a second criminal investigation to determine potential responsibilities regarding the management of rescue efforts following a massacre. Lawyer Fabrizio Ventimiglia reported that the mobilization of civil protection resources caused damage to the Italian state's assets. The Italian Presidency of the Council noted the involvement of Swiss authorities in the event, leading to a request for compensation against responsible parties. The prosecutor's office in the Swiss canton of Valais has opened a second criminal investigation into the New Year's Eve massacre at the Constellation. This new inquiry aims to determine if there was a potential network involved in the event.

A Valais cantonal court sentenced a 49-year-old woman to 14 months in prison. She reportedly posed as a relative of Christian Constantin in several instances.

Researchers from the University of Zurich have investigated the management of sexual abuse archives within the Catholic Church. The investigation highlighted unprofessionalism, a lack of systematic record-keeping, and the creation of secret archives.

The Grand Council of Valais is set to vote on a resolution calling for the resignation of centrist State Councilor Valérie Dietli. The text was submitted to the plenary by the head of the Green group. This move follows the publication of a new report on Friday.

The Diocese of Sion has decided to expand access to its archives and relax consultation conditions. The expansion aims to provide more transparency on its operations. The archives are currently subsidized by the city of Sion and have assisted more than 4,600 families. The diocese will work in partnership with the Valais Association for Genealogical Studies to improve document accessibility. The partnership is expected to have concrete effects on waiting times for accessing documents that do not contain personal data. New regulations will establish a standard 30-year access period for documents that do not contain personal data. Some existing archives in the Diocese of Sion currently have protection periods of 50 to 70 years. Documents containing sensitive personal data will require an additional 10-year waiting period following the death of the individual concerned.