Around 2,000 participants took part in the 15th March for Life in Zürich (capital of Switzerland) on 20 September.

People from a wide variety of countries gathered at the Oerlikon market square at 3 p.m. Right at the start, a group of five people visiting Switzerland from Brazil introduced their community, in which they live together with people with disabilities (some of which were caused by attempted abortions).

The importance of prenatal medicine, especially in cases of disability, was made clear by Prof. Josef Wisser. The Zurich-based gynaecologist and prenatal physician has been working in prenatal medicine and therapy for almost 50 years. In an interview, he highlighted the problems that arise when prenatal medicine is used to justify abortions.

Surviving her own late-term abortion

Another highlight of the gathering was the appearance of US American Gianna Jessen. Jessen survived her own late-term abortion. She explained: “I should be dead, but I'm not!” Doctors predicted that she would never be able to sit, speak or walk due to the damage caused by the abortion. But her will to live was stronger.

Today, she travels around the world to advocate for children and their pregnant mothers. The 48-year-old emphasised in this context, addressing the male participants: “It is important that you men dedicate your lives to your wives and children!”

And to the anti-life activists, she declared: “I am not your enemy, I love you”.

Children and the meaning to life

Thomas Stettler (Swiss People’s Party), a member of the Swiss National Council from the Jura region, made a political statement. In his speech, he asked the question ‘What is life worth?’ and, as a father of six children, explained: “Children bring joy, they also bring challenges, but above all they give meaning to life”.

As a farmer, he was shocked by the contradictions between animal welfare and human welfare: “We protect the chick in the egg more than the unborn child in its mother's womb”, said the parliamentarian. What Swiss need, he said, is “a yes to children, a yes to women in need, a yes to families and a yes to the future”.

The president of the march, Beatrice Gall, drew attention to two political actions at the beginning of the mach: a petition initiated by the march and a motion to be submitted to parliament next week by EDU (conservative evangelicals) parliamentarians Erich Vontobel and Andreas Gafner with cross-party participation.

Both actions concern the so-called ‘Cost Containment Package 2’, which was passed by Swiss Parliament in the spring, including full financing of abortions by health insurance companies and thus ultimately by premium payers. According to the demands of both actions, this financing, which was smuggled in under the guise of “cost containment”, should be overturned.

March through Zurich-Oerlikon

The cheerful march through the streets of Oerlikon, accompanied by bright sunshine and a samba steel band, took place under heavy police presence.

Opponents tried to disrupt the event during the march and at the square, but the police were able to secure everything accordingly.

The event was accompanied by music from the band ‘White Cane’, which generated a lot of enthusiasm.

At the end, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Eleganti, a long-time companion of the march, gave a short interview on stage. The event finally came to an end at around 6 p.m. One young man summed it up: “It was a very special march this year”.