Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They
AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e
BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German
Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who
By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Asia Pacific
World
Search
Search:
Swiss voters back prescription heroin, anti-paedophile law
AFP - Monday, December 1
GENEVA (AFP) - - Swiss voters on Sunday approved plans to let the state distribute heroin distribution to registered addicts but rejected a proposal to decriminalise cannabis.
Voters also defied ministers to approve a tough law that allows victims to bring charges against paedophile abusers without any cut-off period, the ATS news agency reported.
Switzerland has prescribed heroin to registered addicts on a trial basis for the past 10 years in a bid to curb the open drugs scene that flourished in its cities during the 1980s and early 1990s.
The policy is part of a so-called "four pillar" strategy combining repression, prevention, treatment and risk reduction.
More than two thirds of voters (68.1 percent) approved the extension of the policy, ATS reported.
However, voters showed there was a limit to their liberal stance on drugs by massively rejecting a proposal to decriminalise cannabis.
Switzerland is the heaviest user of cannabis in Europe according to a recent study but the proposal to decriminalise the drug was dismissed by 63.2 percent of voters, ATS said.
In anticipation of a "no" vote, the Pro Juventute youth group along with the Federation of Swiss Youth Clubs and teachers unions called for people under the age of 18 caught using cannabis to face fines and drug prevention treatment and counselling rather than criminal action, the NZZ am Sonntag newspaper reported.
The third controversial issue facing the Swiss electorate concerned the so-called "White March" anti-paedophile initiative, allowing victims to bring charges against abusers without any cut-off period.
This bill secured the support of 51.9 percent of the electorate, about 1.2 million voters, ATS said.
All major parties except the far-right Swiss People's Party (SVP) had rejected the proposal, pointing to revisions made to the penal code in June that allows child abuse victims to file charges until they are 33 years old.
Child sex abuse is a growing concern in Switzerland, where four men were arrested in September over an alleged Internet paedophile network said to involve up to 600 Germans.
Four Swiss men were arrested for "acts of a sexual nature" against children, and for producing pornographic films and images involving young girls.
The German-language forum featured accounts from different men about their experiences with young girls and how best to 'groom' them for pornographic ends, the authorities said.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Recommend this article
Average (0 votes)
Sign in to recommend this article »
Most Recommended Stories »
Related Articles: Entertainment & Lifestyle
Guns n' Roses just miss out on top spot in British chartsAFP - Monday, December 1
'Four Christmases' tops holiday movie box office chartsAFP - Monday, December 1
Specter: 'I'll be prepared' for 2010 raceAP - Monday, December 1
Sydney Opera House mourns architect's deathAP - Monday, December 1
PR actress Roselyn Sanchez marries Eric WinterAP - Sunday, November 30
Enlarge Photo
Customers pictured in 2004 leaving a branch of Hanf Haus in Zurich, a shop specializing in hemp-made products. Swiss voters on Sunday approved plans to let the state distribute heroin distribution to registered addicts but rejected a proposal to decriminalise cannabis.
Most Popular – Entertainment
Viewed
Saudi king says 75 dollar oil price 'fair'
World's oldest person dies at 115 years
Love handles increase death risk: study
Michael Jackson strikes 'amicable' deal with Arab sheikh
At least 381 dead after Nigeria clashes: witness
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular