2. Current cultural affairs
Liechtenstein
Last update: May, 2023
Liechtenstein, an EEA country, has made strong efforts in the first two decades of the 21st century to systematically develop the quality of artistic and cultural creation nationally and internationally (see 1.1). Laws have been passed (see 4), structures and international links have been strengthened (see 1.2.2, 1.2.3 and 1.2.5): for example, for the participation of the entire population in cultural creation, the free exercise of artistic and cultural expression, the promotion of new innovative forms of culture and organisations, the division of tasks between the state and the municipalities, the promotion of performances by groups and associations abroad as well as cultural exchange projects and the protection of cultural assets.
For Liechtenstein, culture has become a means of integration and dialogue, and cultural policy an essential part of foreign policy. The same has been true of its commitment to human rights. As a member of the United Nations (since 1990), Liechtenstein actively promotes human rights in various areas. For example, the small country played a leading role in the revision to strengthen the International Criminal Court (ICC). On 8 May 2012, Liechtenstein became the first state to ratify the amendments to the Rome Statute concerning crimes of aggression.
In the years before, Liechtenstein had signed a number of conventions relevant to human rights: such as the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, the Convention on Cybercrime and the Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime, concerning the criminalisation of acts of a racist and xenophobic nature committed through computer systems. In 2009, Liechtenstein ratified both the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness and the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons. Also in 2009, it ratified the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption.
Liechtenstein was a member of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) from 2015 to 2019. The CSW is the main intergovernmental UN body for women’s issues and gender equality and consists of 45 members. Liechtenstein is especially interested in advocating for the protection of women in armed conflicts.
On 26 April 2022, the UN General Assembly adopted the “Veto Initiative” introduced by Liechtenstein to counter the use of the veto by permanent members of the Security Council. The decision requires a meeting of the General Assembly each time a veto is used in the 15-member Security Council, at which the states that have used their veto power must explain the reasons for doing so.
Recent discussions and actions in Liechtenstein focus on global issues such as sustainability, digitalisation, education and integration as well as equal opportunities. Analyses, priorities and planned measures are documented in the “Report on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” dated 2019. Liechtenstein assumes a pioneering role with some projects:
- With the “Liechtenstein Initiative for Finance Against Slavery and Trafficking” (FAST), the financial centre and the government make a significant joint contribution to ending modern slavery and human trafficking. In September 2019, the Commission (consisting of the governments of Liechtenstein, Australia, the Netherlands, the United Nations University Centre for Policy Research, banks, philanthropic foundations and associations) presented a blueprint for strengthening action against modern slavery and human trafficking at the 74th session of the UN General Assembly.
- Young people are being sensitised to sustainability and empowered to play an active role in shaping it through the projects “Energy and Climate Pioneers Liechtenstein” and “Energy and Climate Workshop” in collaboration with the private sector. On the initiative of the Liechtenstein School Board, a major educational project is being implemented in Liechtenstein by the Swiss foundation “myclimate” in 2019–2024. For the first time, children and young people, from kindergarten to secondary school, in an entire country are being sensitised to the topics of sustainability and climate protection.
Agenda 2030
The Liechtenstein government (2017–2021) chose a systematic approach to implement the UN 2030 Agenda. The country focuses on eight priorities from the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals:
- Inclusive, equal and quality education (4 Quality Education)
- Pursuit of an active gender equality policy (5 Gender Equality)
- Availability and sustainable management of water (6 Clean Water and Sanitation)
- Access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy (7 Affordable and Clean Energy)
- Building resilient infrastructure (9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure)
- Reducing inequality within and between states, especially with regard to migration (10 Reduced Inequalities)
- Measures to promote sustainable consumption and production (12 Responsible Consumption and Production)
- Combating climate change by consistently reducing annual greenhouse gas emissions (13 Climate Action).
Education Strategy 2025
In August 2021, the Ministry of the Home Affairs, Education and Environment released the Education Strategy 2025plus. This strategy is geared to global trends and their impact on education. Society and Liechtenstein’s economy are extremely knowledge- and innovation-based. Global trends such as digitalisation and climate change have therefore been on the radar for some time. One objective of the education system is to ensure educational success for all and to encourage lifelong learning.
In addition to this, Liechtenstein also wants to control development processes in the education system more clearly in the future and promote entry, transfer and re-entry opportunities by providing a variety of educational pathways. The state wants to strengthen research, teaching and continuing education in the core topics of the University of Liechtenstein: “Digitalisation and Innovation”, “Planning and Sustainability” as well as “Responsibility and Society”.
Digital Agenda
In March 2019, the government issued the “Liechtenstein Digital Agenda” (see 1.1). One main focus is on education: To develop digital skills and raise awareness of responsibility and risks. Platforms are planned under the heading of Family and Equal Opportunities. Finally, in the field of arts and culture, there are plans to promote the creation of digital art and to make analogue works available in digital form. In this context, cultural policy is about creating framework conditions to protect and further develop cultural diversity also in the digital age. This includes the preservation and digitisation of cultural heritage as well as making cultural content widely accessible and establishing international networks.
My Liechtenstein 2039
In 2019, the Principality of Liechtenstein celebrated its 300th anniversary (see 1.2.6). The government launched the project “My Liechtenstein 2039” to invite the people of the country to actively contribute ideas and visions for the future of Liechtenstein. People submitted more than 230 ideas, suggestions and topics, such as on equality, family support, working life, intergenerational dialogue, lifelong learning, smart mobility, sustainability, etc.
Last update: May, 2023
Liechtenstein joined the UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR, UN Covenant I) on 10 March 1999. This guarantees – in addition to rights to freedom, civil rights and basic economic rights – the right to education and to participate in cultural life.
For a small state like Liechtenstein, the discussion of values and ways of life is a question of national identity. The promotion of art and culture is part of what contributes to the formation of society and state. It is part of innovation and forward thinking in terms of new technologies, new media and new generations.
People participate in communities based on a variety of factors such as ethnicity, origin, religion, faith, beliefs, language, gender, age, social class, occupation, interests and geographical location. When it comes to mobilising energies for new thinking in an increasingly globalised, complex and digitalised world, cultural rights are indispensable.
The normative framework of cultural rights and ethics is laid down in the Liechtenstein Constitution: Articles 27 to 44 set out the fundamental rights. These include the right to equality between men and women (Article 31, para. 2), freedom of belief and conscience (Article 37, para. 1), freedom of expression in speech, writing and image (Article 40), as well as freedom of association and assembly (Article 41). Article 40 also includes freedom of the press and rejection of censorship. However, the Constitution does not define a national cultural purpose.
Modernising access to culture and social cohesion are key issues going forward with the implementation of the UN Agenda 2030, the Education Strategy 2025plus and the Liechtenstein Digital Agenda (see 2.1).
Last update: May, 2023
The Documentation of Art in Liechtenstein Foundation (DKL) has set itself the goal of documenting visual artistic creation and has recorded over 250 visual artists. This number is relatively high for a small state. What started small in the 1970s has grown into an enormous diversity. The spectrum ranges from audio, print, photography, installation, architectural art, painting, mixed media, performance, sculpture, text, theatre and video to drawing. Art is visible, audible and omnipresent in public spaces, museums and galleries.
Liechtenstein has reaffirmed the importance of art and culture in international agreements and, through its regional and national cultural policies, has underlined the essential role that artists and cultural creators play in the country itself and for its foreign policy (see 1.1 and 1.2). The country spends a relatively large amount of money to support as many creative people as possible in as many sectors as possible. To this end, the Liechtenstein Cultural Foundation is in constant dialogue with the country’s creators of art and culture. Apart from freedom, independence and diversity (see 1.2.5 and 1.3.3), it promotes the status of art and culture in society as well as the visibility of artistic works on international platforms. It is also committed to ensuring that sufficient financial resources are available.
Through regional and international European programmes, the state contributes to promoting the mobility and international exchange of artists (see 1.4.2).
But economic and social independence in cultural professions has so far been largely overlooked. There is no social insurance for artists in Liechtenstein, a key tool to ensure access to statutory health, long-term care and pension insurance (see 4.1.3). There is also a lack of studies on the situation of artists in Liechtenstein, such as precarious working conditions or unstable income prospects. Issues such as security, labour law, unemployment insurance, social insurance, women in the arts and tax measures are not yet matters of public concern.
Last update: May, 2023
Based on information from the Statistics Office, there were 18,526 internet connections in Liechtenstein in 2021. According to a 2020 Data Protection Agency study, 95 per cent of people use the internet.
The Digital Agenda (see 1.1 and 2.1) is a strategic guideline to ensure Liechtenstein’s further development in view of the changes in education, work and personal life. Access to new technologies for the general public is considered a state and education policy mandate. Liechtenstein’s highly developed economy could not exist without the use of modern information and communication technologies. Business, science and politics are connected via the “Digital Liechtenstein” platform for digital innovation.
Worldwide networking and digitalisation in all areas of life are driving the shift towards “open innovation”. The business sector has already analysed the concept in detail. With a project of the International Lake Constance University (2014), which also includes the University of Liechtenstein, the concept was taken in a new direction towards open innovation of society under the title “eSociety Bodensee 2020”. Its objective is to make citizens, associations, politicians and non-governmental organisations the driving force behind the future of the Lake Constance region. A toolbox for open social innovation is freely available at www.tosit.org.
Digitalisation and culture
Cultural education uses digitalisation to enable people of all ages to participate in culture and society. However, digitalisation does not only describe the technical process, but a cultural change that is shaped by people.
We now live in a world where the analogue can no longer be separated from the digital. The internet as well as its platforms and portals have created a digital space. New forms of teaching and presentation are possible, for example, through interactive screens, augmented reality or QR codes. Almost all the music we listen to is stored on digital audio media, visual art installations involve digital media, museums put their collections online or make exhibitions digitally accessible. Videos, games and films are recognised art genres.
In July 2020, a poster exhibition titled “Culture Channel” took place in Vaduz, where 54 professional artists exhibited their work. The exhibition brought visual arts back into the public eye during the pandemic. It was the Office of Cultural Affairs and the Liechtenstein Cultural Foundation that launched the project. At the same time, a website called kulturkanal.li went online, displaying the works with background information. The plan is to expand the culture channel to showcase Liechtenstein’s cultural scene digitally on one platform.
Like museums everywhere, the Liechtenstein Art Museum put its collection online in 2010 and is also on social media. Since 2017, the digital-liechtenstein.li association has been organising the “Digitaltag” (Digital Day) in Vaduz, the partner city of “digitalswitzerland”, the Swiss Digital Day, together with the Art Museum. A new augmented reality app was unveiled at the Art Museum during Digital Day 2018. The “Artifact” app was developed as a prototype by the Game Technology Center of ETH Zurich with the support of the Princely Collections and the LGT Group (banking group of the Princely House). It serves as the basis for the MAG/NET app, which virtually enhances artworks with text, images, audio, video, 3D models and visual effects.
Philately in Liechtenstein is also breaking new ground with Stamp 4.0. In 2021, it launched the first stamp with blockchain technology. An SQR code has been integrated into the “Weitblick” special-issue stamp, which takes users to a website. There, they can learn more about the history of the stamp, the serial number and the designer. Using the associated app (AndroidTM), the stamp can be checked for authenticity.
Last update: May, 2023
Peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding between different cultural communities is a permanent Liechtenstein policy goal. On an international level, Liechtenstein is engaged at the UN, which reinforces the dialogue between countries, cultures and civilisations. The country is open to foreign labour and sets a high priority on integration. This intercultural dialogue refers to both domestic dialogue (with the migrant population) and international dialogue.
Dialogue in Liechtenstein
The Liechtenstein Art Museum took up the theme of migration in 2003. Works from the 1960s to the present, for example, were on display at the Liechtenstein Art Museum, addressing questions of cultural identity, homeland and exile, migration and otherness.
The dialogue in Liechtenstein has increased in recent years – not only in the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008. Liechtenstein is home to many small minorities from around 100 nations. Cultural diversity has gained more and more importance in recent years. This is reflected in publications, events and projects of research and cultural institutions. In addition, the “Horizon” project was established in 2015 to promote trust-based intercultural dialogue among migrants. Since 2020, the Association for Human Rights (VMR) and the Liechtenstein Refugee Aid Association have been running the project as the “Horizon Meeting Place”.
Integration strategy
The Liechtenstein Institute organised a series of lectures on the topic of integration in 2011, prompted by the new integration concept “Liechtenstein – Strength through Diversity". This was new territory for Liechtenstein. Integration was now a public matter. 2021, the Liechtenstein government then adopted an integration strategy.
According to the strategy, “integration” is a complex process, with the central element being a “common understanding of integration”. The success of integration does not only depend on the willingness, interest and tolerance of the newcomers, but also on the openness of society and its willingness to engage in dialogue. The explicit objective is to create a non-discriminatory society. Six fields of action have been identified:
- Newcomers are to be welcomed through information, communication and counselling.
- Communication is through the German language.
- Opportunities for all and non-discriminatory access to the labour market are to be ensured through education and training.
- Liechtenstein recognises the value of diversity and uses diversity as a strength, such as when it comes to “coexistence”. In society, a wide range of sporting, recreational and cultural activities is sought to strengthen the feeling of solidarity between the local population and newcomers. Continuous intercultural and interreligious dialogue is also one of the objectives.
- Political participation in social processes is supported.
- A key element of integration policy is the constitutional amendment of equal treatment for all people in Liechtenstein. Equal treatment discourages xenophobia, racism and discrimination.
International intercultural dialogue
The most important protagonist in the global context is foreign cultural policy (see 1.4). A number of cultural institutions have developed activities related to intercultural dialogue. Over the last ten years, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also promoted dialogue with the Czech Republic in particular:
In December 2010, a Liechtenstein-Czech Commission of Historians with equal membership from both countries began its work, investigating the historical relations between the Czech Republic and its predecessor countries (Czechoslovakia, Austria-Hungary, Lands of the Bohemian Crown) and Liechtenstein. The findings of the Commission of Historians on the 700-year shared history of the House of Liechtenstein and the territories of today’s Czech Republic, as well as the relationship between the two countries in the 20th century, are now available in eight volumes.
The Principality of Liechtenstein and the Czech Republic – or rather the Princely House and the Lands of the Bohemian Crown – are closely linked historically. This link was broken in the 20th century. Since the expropriation of the House of Liechtenstein in Czechoslovakia under the Benes Decrees in 1946, the Moravian possessions of the Princely House have been the property of the Czechoslovak and later the Czech state. All political and judicial efforts by Prince Hans-Adam II to have the property (17 castles, 1,600 square kilometres of land, industrial enterprises) returned failed due to the resistance of the government in Prague. Only in 2009 did the two countries re-establish diplomatic relations.
In January 2014, the report of the Commission of Historians was published, and the foreign ministers of the two countries decided to promote mutual understanding with the help of lectures, exhibitions, and other media. They also agreed to intensify their political dialogue within the framework of European integration and international organisations such as the UN and the OSCE.
New priorities were set in 2016. Projects and activities were now targeting the general public. In 2018, for example, a Czech History Day was held in Liechtenstein, and Liechtenstein History Days in the Czech Republic in 2019. The two bilateral projects were funded through EEA and Norwegian grants (see 7.2.3).
Last update: May, 2023
“Intercultural education” is not an official component of general school education in Liechtenstein. But it does play a role in the classroom, such as in religious instruction. Since 2003, Liechtenstein’s secondary schools have offered the subject “Ethics and Religion” as an alternative to denominational religious instruction. Since the school year 2019/20, this also applies to primary schools as part of the subject “Nature, People, Society”. This elective is non-denominational. As a result of the culture and history of the Western world, Christianity assumes a key role. However, other major religions, their histories, their ethics and their cultural impact are also studied. Classes deal with religions and the significance of religious attitudes in personal life, society and culture.
The Liechtenstein Education Strategy 2025plus (see 2.1) takes a further step by focusing on “education for all”. The Ministry of Education sees “educational success for all” and an “inclusive attitude” as its strategic goal. Education for all means “valuing and recognising diversity in education”. Liechtenstein’s public schools are “inclusive schools”, in which learners of all talents, nationalities or genders are taught and supported. The path leads towards “inclusive schools” and thus towards a culture in which diversity is seen as an asset.
The Liechtenstein integration strategy (see 2.1) also explicitly states: “Equal opportunities in education is an important field of action in integration policy”. On the one hand, this is a prerequisite for an economically independent life and, on the other, for social participation and involvement.
In principle, the education system – from early childhood development to childcare, kindergartens, schools, universities and adult education – aims to raise awareness of diversity as well as to foster shared identity and connectedness. Mutual understanding and appreciation of cultural differences as well as tolerance towards each other are meant to help reduce discrimination.
Policy makers are increasingly trying to develop measures for cultural integration. The previous fundamental goal of “promoting and challenging” has been coupled with a change of perspective. Liechtenstein wants to move away from seeing “deficits” towards an orientation towards individual potential and possibilities.
Last update: May, 2023
Liechtenstein is considered, together with Switzerland, to be the European country with the most highly developed direct-democratic rights. The media perform their function of articulating contemporary issues in Liechtenstein society; that is, they afford all relevant groups the opportunity to express their views. To a large extent, press texts retain the undistorted discussion and communication styles of the political, economic and cultural actors involved and reflect them more authentically than is the case with the construed “reality” produced by media systems operating in their own personal interests.
Media concentration is high in Liechtenstein: with two well-established newspapers, each oriented to one of the two major political parties, an independent, private monthly magazine, a cultural magazine, a radio station under public law (since 2004) and a private TV station. The Media Act of October 2005 (see 4.2.5) emphasises the duty of commitment to free, individual shaping of opinion. No laws exist to prohibit media concentration.
The Media Promotion Act of September 2006 establishes that the media must be privately funded. In order to preserve a diversity of opinion, the state supports the media directly not exceeding 30% of labour costs or indirectly, for example, through education and continuing education of media employees. Radio license fees have been eliminated in Liechtenstein, and the public-law radio station is financed extensively by the state. According to the October 2003 Liechtenstein Radio Act, information on art, culture and science are to be included in the broadcasting programme. Critics call for a stronger cultural commitment from the radio and daily press.
State subsidies are subject to EU state aid law. Liechtenstein must also notify these to the EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA). The ESA was informed of the Media Promotion Act in August 2006 and found it to be compatible with the EEA Agreement by decision 267/06/COL. This qualification was confirmed by the ESA in December 2017 for a further six years.
In 2018, the Liechtenstein government commissioned the Liechtenstein Institute and the Department of Communication and Media Research of the Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences at the University of Fribourg (Switzerland) to review funding for the media. It concludes that the support of private media in Liechtenstein is important for democracy in order to maintain a pluralistic media landscape and ensure the formation of political opinion.
Last update: May, 2023
German is the official language in Liechtenstein and is taught as the native language for most of the population at all schools. According to a census survey, 94.5 per cent of the population in Liechtenstein spoke German as their main language in 2010, 91.5 per cent in 2015 and 92 per cent in 2020. According to the 2020 statistics, 73 per cent spoke a Liechtenstein dialect, 12 per cent another German dialect and eight per cent High German.
The Alemannic dialect spoken in everyday life has sometimes been a topic of discussion. The dialects in Liechtenstein can be divided into three dialects: Lower Country dialect in the north, Upper Country dialect in the south, and Highest Alemannic Walser German in the southeast of the country. Those who only learn these dialects are not sufficiently prepared, according to official opinion. Those who want to integrate professionally need to have a good command of the written language. Language practice is needed to consolidate High German skills acquired in language courses. This is true of foreign nationals as well as the local population. On the one hand, Liechtenstein schools try to compensate for deficits by providing special instruction in “German as a second language”. On the other hand, initiatives have been taken by the authorities to motivate non-German-speaking residents to learn German.
Liechtenstein, like the European Commission, speaks out against racism and intolerance. At the same time, the government, authorities and Parliament in Liechtenstein are convinced that mastering the German language is an important tool to improve the integration of immigrants from non-German speaking regions. People from around 100 countries have brought a considerable linguistic, ethnic and cultural diversity to the country. When the share of foreign residents reached 39 per cent in 1995, the topic of “integration” also took on a new political dimension.
The government created the position of an Integration Officer in 2008 and adopted a comprehensive integration concept in December 2010, which resulted in the integration strategy 2021 (see 2.5.1). For one, multilingualism is seen as a valuable social asset. For another, language barriers are being broken down at all levels. Learning the German language is considered central to creating equal opportunities, and this is also enforced. Since 2008, foreign nationals wishing to acquire Liechtenstein nationality must demonstrate that they have mastered the German language and that they have basic knowledge of the legal order, structure of the state, history and culture of the country.
The “Liechtenstein Languages” (LieLa) initiative and the non-profit foundation of the same name were established in 2015. LieLa develops educationally valuable school materials and now instructs trainers not only in Liechtenstein, but also in Germany, Austria and Switzerland in the New Learning method of language teaching. It works for the Liechtenstein School Board and is generously supported by Prince Hans Adam II of Liechtenstein.
In addition, LieLa makes an innovative contribution to refugees, language and integration. So far, the trainers have assisted more than 10,000 migrants in their linguistic integration in German-speaking countries. Liechtenstein is funding a language learning programme for Syrian and Iraqi refugees in Turkey with CHF 1.1 million from 2020 to 2022. LieLa trains staff provided by the RET International NGO to become language teachers. Apart from the 2,136 refugees directly concerned, family members also benefit from the programme. The extensive project was presented at the first Global Refugee Forum in Geneva in December 2019 as one of Liechtenstein’s contributions to the Global Compact on Refugees.
In 1996/97, English was introduced as the first foreign language, starting at the third primary class level. Since 2010, English lessons have started from the first primary class level. The country of Liechtenstein additionally supports the International School Rheintal in the border triangle economic region of Liechtenstein, Eastern Switzerland and Vorarlberg/Western Austria. From kindergarten to the international baccalaureate, German-speaking and non-German-speaking children communicate in the English language. “Formatio”, the only private school in Liechtenstein, also offers a part of the instruction in the English language, while the Liechtenstein Waldorf School teaches English and French starting in grade one.
Last update: May, 2023
It was not until 1984, later than elsewhere in Europe, that women in the Principality of Liechtenstein were granted the right to vote. Since 1992, gender equality has been anchored in the Liechtenstein Constitution. The Equality Article 31(2) simply states: “There shall be equality of rights between the sexes.” This explicit enshrinement in the Constitution paved the way for amendments to various laws, particularly in the areas of citizenship, old-age and survivors’ insurance and taxes.
In 1995, Parliament approved the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Liechtenstein ratified the convention in 1996. It continues to provide a sound basis for positive action against prejudice and the stereotypical distribution of roles between men and women to this day.
The legal dimension
As a member of the European Economic Area (EEA) since 1995, Liechtenstein has adopted twelve directives on gender equality. Since then, vigorous measures have been introduced to implement the principle of equality. The Gender Equality Act (LGBl. 1999 No. 96) of March 1999 was a milestone on the road to gender equality in the workplace. The 2001 Protection against Violence Act has improved protection against violence in families. In 2002, the government resolved to progressively introduce gender
mainstreaming. In 2006, Liechtenstein adapted the legislation to EU standards for gender equality in the workplace.
Two measures should be emphasised in particular. First, the inheritance law underwent a fundamental revision in 2012 to improve the legal status of the surviving spouse or registered domestic partner. Second, the amendments to the sexual criminal law in 2011 expanded the material legal protection of victims and provided a legal basis for combating violence against women and children as well as domestic violence. The express inclusion of female genital mutilation as a crime also serves to strengthen the protection of victims of violence. In October 2021, the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, the Istanbul Convention, entered into force in Liechtenstein. Liechtenstein has further improved victim and witness protection in civil proceedings.
Women in business
Women remain significantly under-represented in business. Three-quarters of female Liechtenstein citizens decide against careers as soon as they have children. Although 50 per cent of secondary school students are female and 42 per cent of female graduates attend a university, traditional gender roles remain strong in Liechtenstein society. Women still earn less than men, and this pay inequality further stereotypes role models, as a gender analysis from 2018 shows.
At the beginning of the 1990s, a network was established between the women’s and gender equality / equal opportunity offices in the three and/or four-country region (Baden-Württemberg, German-speaking Switzerland, Austria, Liechtenstein). Since 1999, the women’s and gender equality / equal opportunity offices have been using the European Union’s Interreg programme to implement cross-border gender equality projects and to incorporate them in a sustainable way.
One example of cross-national cooperation is the Interreg project “Länder-Gender” (2004–2006) for promoting gender mainstreaming in management. In 2016, the gender equality / equal opportunity commissioners of Liechtenstein, the Swiss canton of Graubünden and the Austrian province of Vorarlberg conducted a project study called “Subject: Women Decide”. As the study confirmed, in Liechtenstein in 2016, there was not a single woman in 36 listed companies filling a management or board of directors function, nor in a management position in the business organisations. There were also hardly any women represented on the boards of directors and foundation boards. Exceptions were the boards of directors of the Liechtensteinische Landesbank, the Liechtenstein Broadcasting Corporation, Telecom Liechtenstein and Verkehrsbetriebe Liechtenstein. The reasons for the limited number of women in leadership positions are manifold. As such, role models, work cultures, the reconciliation of family and work, income differences and gender play a role.
Things look different when it comes to social affairs. Out of 27 institutions, 19 in Liechtenstein had a woman in a management position, which corresponds to 70 per cent of all management positions. Twelve institutions had 50 per cent or more women on the board of directors or foundation board.
Another Interreg IVa project implemented by the four-country network was titled “Subject: Role Models” (2012–2014). Its aim was to broaden the range of roles in the context of work and family. There are also awareness-raising projects in schools in Liechtenstein to motivate young people not to be guided by role stereotypes when choosing a profession. A “National Future Day – Changing Sides for Girls and Boys” has been organised since 2012, which aims to break down role stereotypes and in which an increasing number of Liechtenstein companies participate.
As part of the implementation of the United Nations’ Agenda 2030 (see 2.1), Liechtenstein’s companies are striving, at varying speeds, to incorporate environmental and social factors into their corporate strategy alongside economic factors. The country has officially set itself the goal of pursuing an active gender equality policy. According to the Statistics Office, the gross monthly wage of working women in the country was still 14 per cent lower than that of men in 2020.
Since 2008, the Statistics Office has been using indicators to provide the basis for long-term policy-making in Liechtenstein. Several indicators relate to equal opportunities for women and men in politics and in business. In 2019, the government awarded the Family Friendly Business Award for the first time.
Culture and media
Women are strongly represented in culture and the arts, but there are no special support programmes for them. As the study “Subject: Women Decide” shows, nine of a total of 26 institutions in Liechtenstein had a woman in a leadership position in 2016, which corresponds to 35 per cent. Out of 17 institutions, eight have women occupying half of the positions on the board of directors or foundation board. This corresponds to 47 per cent.
In line with social developments, women are also associated with culture, education and social issues in the media, but they are still largely ignored in business and politics. A media analysis of the transnational project “Subject: Women Decide” in 2016 evaluated 122 reports on men and women in leading positions in politics, administration, education, science, culture, social affairs, nursing, health, sports, agriculture and forestry as well as companies. Fifty-four per cent mentioned men, 46 per cent mentioned women, with women dominating the areas of culture, education and social affairs, and men dominating the areas of business and politics.
Women in politics
A variety of measures have been taken in the last two decades to increase the number of women in political office. Three of the five members of the government elected in 2021 – and for the first time in Liechtenstein’s history – are female, bringing the proportion of women in the government to 60 per cent. Seven women were elected in the 2021 parliamentary elections, more than doubling the number of female parliamentarians, but still only accounting for about 28 per cent of all parliamentarians. At the municipal council level, the share of women has increased to 41.3 per cent in the 2019–2023 electoral term. In two out of eleven municipalities, a woman heads the municipality. As regards the commissions and advisory boards, women accounted for 25 per cent in 2019.
So far, the Liechtenstein Women’s Network, as an umbrella organisation, has taken on many central tasks of gender equality policy in Liechtenstein. For example, the cross-party project “Diversity in Politics” (2018–2025) is working towards the goal of achieving a greater share of women in politics through three approaches: Improvement of the electoral process and framework conditions, empowerment of women in politics and political education. Efforts are being made to obtain financial and non-material support for the project from the state, municipalities and other civil society stakeholders.
Last update: May, 2023
On 8 September 2020, Liechtenstein signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) at the United Nations in New York – as one of the last countries in the world. Internationally, the Convention entered into force on 3 May 2008. The UNCRPD has succeeded in establishing a human rights approach: Persons with disabilities have human rights and the state has a duty to guarantee and protect those rights. Disability is seen as an enrichment of human diversity. It is the first text of a legislative nature that not only grants people with disabilities creative potential, but also the right to develop it.
In Liechtenstein, the rights of persons with disabilities are enshrined at various levels, as a 2017 study by the Liechtenstein Institute shows: First of all, there is the Constitution, which, however, does not seem up-to-date with regard to the rights of persons with disabilities. At the legislative level, there are a number of laws that provide financial support, care and assistance to people with disabilities. Liechtenstein has had a Disability Equality Act since 2007 (LGBl. 2006 No. 234). It is partly in line with a modern disability policy that seeks full participation – social inclusion – and equal opportunities.
The study concludes that the ratification of the UNCRPD leads to people with disabilities and disability organisations having an additional legal instrument at their disposal. This would further strengthen the legal position of persons with disabilities, it is believed.
At the same time, several UN, Council of Europe and EU conventions also apply to Liechtenstein – among them the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (UN Covenant I), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (UN Covenant II) and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
In terms of institutions, Liechtenstein is well positioned for people with disabilities. On the one hand, the Association of Human Rights (AHR) has been active as a national human rights institution in Liechtenstein since 2017. This is enshrined in the Human Rights Association Act (LGBl. 2016 No. 504). On the other hand, with the Liechtenstein Association of Persons with Disabilities and the Office for Equality for Persons with Disabilities, there are two interest groups that cooperate closely and also have the mandate for disability policy. Furthermore, Liechtenstein has educational institutions and employers that work in an integrative way on the basis of the special needs education principle: the “Heilpädagogisches Zentrum” (HPZ) and the “Verein für heilpädagogische Hilfe”, which include school and therapeutic facilities as well as residential homes and workshops for adults. Furthermore, the “Verein für Betreutes Wohnen” (VBW) offers a wide range of assisted-living services for people with mental illnesses as well as for children, adolescents and families.
Last update: May, 2023
Liechtenstein ratified the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (1995) on 18 November 1997. Although there are no national minorities in the country as defined by the Convention, Liechtenstein regularly reports on measures to promote equal opportunities, prevent discrimination, racism and intolerance, integrate foreign residents and combat right-wing extremism.
In the fifth country report published in 2020, Liechtenstein provided information on a migration study and a study on “Islam in Liechtenstein”, among other things. The purpose of the studies was to learn more about Muslim life and the lives of migrants. They served as the basis for the new integration strategy (see 2.5.1), which shows how integration can succeed and defines further improvements in the opportunities and participation of migrants as a central objective.
European micro-states like Liechtenstein are among the most economically successful countries today. This is fuelled by workers who commute to work every day from neighbouring countries. In 2019, commuters filled 55.9 per cent of jobs in Liechtenstein, compared to 34.6 per cent some thirty years ago. Liechtenstein has excellent relations with Switzerland and Austria. Almost every family has had Austrian or Swiss family members integrated for generations – mostly women.
Around 34 per cent of Liechtenstein’s inhabitants are from abroad, the vast majority belong to a Christian religion, only three to four per cent are of the Muslim faith. Racism has been a punishable offence since 2000, after Liechtenstein ratified the UN Convention against Racism and adapted the Penal Code. Since 2004, the integration of non-Liechtensteiners has been a state objective. Slightly more than half of Liechtenstein’s population are women; gender equality has been a central issue for years (see 2.5.5). The share of households receiving social assistance is 3.5 per cent, with poverty seen primarily from a financial perspective. According to estimates, 15 to 18 per cent of the population lives with some degree of disability. About 2 to 5 per cent are likely to indicate a same-sex orientation.
Since 2011, according to the Same-Sex Partnership Act (SSPA) (LGBl. 2011 No. 350), registered partnerships of same-sex couples have been equal to marriage in many respects, for example in inheritance law, social security law, law on foreign nationals, tax law, law relating to the use of names and civil law. A majority of the population, 70 per cent, approved of the SSPA. Also, two openly homosexual men and a “cross-dresser” have been elected to Parliament in the past, suggesting a degree of acceptance. According to the association FLAY for LGBTI people, there is still a need for action to sensitise the population to the issue. Liechtenstein lags behind a number of other European countries. Same-sex couples still cannot get married and adopt children.
The networking group “sichtwechsel” helps people with disabilities in Liechtenstein using an integrative approach. Members of the association include the state pension insurance OASI-IV-FAK, the “Heilpädagogisches Zentrum” and the Association of Persons with Disabilities, the Cultural Association for the Deaf, the aha youth information centre, the Educational Theatre Centre, the Office for Vocational Education and Training, the Association for Assisted Living, the School Board, the Liechtenstein Institute, the Association for Human Rights, as well as the ombudsman service for children and young people. People with and without disabilities have been working on a newspaper since 2012. The “Skino” cinema has been showing trailers in which people with disabilities have their say since 2020.
There is no extreme poverty in Liechtenstein, but there are people who are financially disadvantaged and are supported by the state. Liechtenstein’s welfare system generously steps in when people are in need. Private initiatives in Liechtenstein are also significant, whether for families, the elderly, children or people with disabilities, regardless of their origin. In addition to Caritas, Family Assistance and the Office of Social Services, the private initiative “Stiftung Liachtbleck” has existed since 2005 with the aim of helping people to overcome financial difficulties in a non-bureaucratic way.
However, the economic perspective is only one dimension of poverty. In a country with a high standard of living, poverty means that participation in society is severely limited. According to a study by the Association for Human Rights, poverty refers to the lack of provision in important areas of life such as housing, food, health, education, work and social contacts. At the same time, limited access to informal education such as clubs, leisure facilities or libraries, among other things, limits both the scope for contact and cooperation as well as the scope for learning and experience. The State of Liechtenstein wants to present a poverty report in 2023, but retains a financial perspective and so far does not recognise that many people are affected by poverty.
While integration is an attempt to integrate a minority directly into an existing majority, inclusion is about including all people from the very beginning. Everyone should be able to participate equally as self-determined individuals in and within society. Discrimination is to be reduced. Inclusion is mostly applied to people with disabilities, but also includes other groups: Sexual orientation, gender, age, origin, educational status, social situation or religion should not matter in a heterogeneous society.
In Liechtenstein, initial approaches are being seen in the field of education and culture. The Education Strategy 2025plus (see 2.1 and 2.5.2) identifies a future “inclusive attitude” as a strategic goal under the focus “Education for All”. The Liechtenstein Music School offers an inclusion workshop called “All inclusive”, where people with and without disabilities make music together. Another example was on display from April to August 2022 in an exhibition at the Liechtenstein Art Museum under the title “In the Context of the Collection: Matthias Frick”. The artist Matthias Frick (1964–2017) counted himself among the “Art Brut” (or outsider art) movement. Thrown off track for many years due to schizophrenia, he managed to develop a personal cosmology with his drawings and painterly works on paper. It was at the studio of the “Heilpädagogisches Zentrum” (HPZ) that he was able to take advantage of the opportunities to develop his talent.
Last update: May, 2023
The objectives of Liechtenstein’s cultural policy correspond to themes found in the Council of Europe’s work programme (see 1.4.1): in particular human rights, social cohesion, education, culture, preservation of historical buildings and cross-border cooperation. In a multi-ethnic society, art, culture and cultural education gain importance in promoting integration and highlighting the positive elements of cultural diversity. Cultural equality, cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue are moving into the public consciousness.
The positive impact of cultural work on social cohesion is increasingly being recognised. But what about the problem of equal access to education, art and culture, which has so far been addressed unsatisfactorily? Finding an answer to this question has been a priority for only a few so far. One example is ASSITEJ Liechtenstein (see 1.4.3), which implemented a film project based on the ASSITEJ Manifesto in June 2022, funded by the Liechtenstein Cultural Foundation, among others. In the documentary, children and young people – wandering through various cultural institutions – deal with their rights to art, culture and freedom of expression.
As summarised by a 2017 Council of Europe study, lack of financial resources, social inclusion, skills and education, minority rights and a lack of freedom of expression, as well as geographical and social isolation are potential barriers to broad public access to a diverse cultural life. Promoting access for ethnic minorities and migrant communities and their inclusion in mainstream culture, it is concluded, is expected to assist in their social and cultural integration.
Given that a lack of money often leads to limited participation in social and cultural life, Caritas Liechtenstein launched the Cultural Discount Card, or KulturLegi for short, in 2020, modelled on Caritas Switzerland’s KulturLegi. In Switzerland, around 3,100 institutions participate in this programme, including theatres, museums, a literature house, a circus, as well as music and photography festivals. The Liechtenstein Art Museum, the Liechtenstein National Library, the Liechtenstein Theatre plus Young Theatre and the Liechtensteiner Volksblatt are among those affiliated with the programme in Liechtenstein. Furthermore, through the Liechtenstein Adult Education Foundation, the country supports adults who wish to continue their education at the Music School and School of Fine Arts, among others.
The discussion is under way: culture and art – whether music, painting, literature, theatre, film or other art forms – are a form of reflection. They reflect social debates and provide points of interaction for confronting reality. Culture and art have an impact on what happens in society. However, the discussion about inclusion as well as integration is only just beginning (see 2.5.6 and 2.6).
Liechtenstein is a little further along in the debate on self-determination, participation and volunteering. Civic engagement is a supporting element of cultural life in Liechtenstein. Volunteering is an important pillar without which the state would not be able to function. This is true of the social sector as well as of voluntary cultural work. In Liechtenstein, there is widespread agreement on the enormous value of voluntary and honorary work. Only in this way was it possible for a vibrant, diverse and well-developed cultural landscape to emerge.
Last update: May, 2023
In 1994, Liechtenstein joined the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The country first set internationally binding targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, then in 2015 under the Paris Climate Agreement. Since climate policy has been gathering pace at the international and European levels, Liechtenstein has also been increasingly concerned with the design of strategies and measures to protect the climate. These are set out in the “Energy Strategy 2030” and the “Energy Vision 2050”. So far, culture has not played any role in concepts and explanations of sustainability. Even sustainable standards in cultural institutions have not been discussed so far.
To mark Liechtenstein’s 300th anniversary, the government published a report on “Sustainability in Liechtenstein” in 2019 (see 2.1). From the report: “For many years, Liechtenstein has been implementing targeted measures for sustainable economic growth, the careful use of natural resources, the preservation of nature and the landscape, as well as for a peaceful, just and inclusive society, and the guarantee of a well-functioning constitutional state.”
One issue related to the UN 2030 Agenda is to ensure inclusive, equal and quality education, as formulated in the Education Strategy 2025plus (see 2.1 and 2.5.2). The introduction of the subject “Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)” is intended to contribute to raising children’s awareness of sustainable development starting in primary school. Seven cross-curricular aspects are addressed: Politics, democracy and human rights; natural environment and resources; gender and equality; health; global development and peace; cultural identities and intercultural understanding; economy and consumption.
In autumn 2020, artists challenged the man-made age with an exhibition at the Liechtenstein Art Museum. Titled “Parliament of Plants”, they gave a voice to the plants to which our own thoughts are deeply connected. In an online lecture in cooperation with the arts programme (artsprogram”) of Zeppelin University (ZU), the curator of the art museum explained the paradigm shift in viewing the plant world. Zeppelin University in Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance exemplifies interdisciplinarity between business, culture and politics. The artsprogram invites artists, scientists and students to a public dialogue on socially relevant topics.
The Liechtenstein School of Fine Arts sees itself as a centre of excellence for art, design and innovation and focuses on a wide-ranging exploration of sustainability. Its aim is to minimise the underestimated role of visual communication, design and art in society.
Last update: May, 2023
Since the licensing practice was changed in 2016 following a legal dispute over the award of a casino licence, the demand for casino operating licences in Liechtenstein has been high. Currently, there are five casinos with roulette tables and slot machines. Three others have submitted applications for a permit, and the infrastructure for gaming operations is being put in place at two sites. Ten casinos for a population of just under 40,000 are causing discontent across the country. A motion was submitted in Parliament in 2021 to stop casino developments.
That gambling is part of the culture in many countries is evident in the wide range of films, books and songs. Table and card games such as blackjack, poker or roulette have also been part of the cultural heritage since the 19th century. But not in Liechtenstein. In April 2022, a group called “IG VolksMeinung” registered a popular initiative. Its purpose is to have an amendment in the Constitution that prohibits casinos. This will require clarification as to whether the prohibition of a single industry is compatible with the principle of freedom of trade and commerce in accordance with the EEA directives.