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| A young lesbian couple in Zurich. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo |
Switzerland agreed to legalise civil marriage and the right to adopt children for same-sex couples by a nearly two-thirds majority in a referendum on Sunday, making it one of the last countries in Western Europe to legalise gay marriage.
According to results provided by the Swiss federal chancellery, 64.1% of voters voted in favour of same-sex marriage in the nationwide referendum that was conducted under Switzerlandโs system of direct democracy.
โWe are very happy and relieved,โ said Antonia Hauswirth of the national committee โMarriage for Allโ, adding supporters would celebrate in Switzerlandโs capital Bern on Sunday.
Amnesty International said in a statement that opening civil marriage to same-sex couples was a โmilestone for equalityโ.
However, Monika Rueegger of Switzerlandโs right-wing Swiss Peopleโs Party (SVP) and member of the referendum committee โNo to Marriage for Allโ said she was disappointed.
โThis was not about love and feelings, it was about childrenโs welfare. Children and fathers are the losers here,โ she told Reuters.
The amended law will make it possible for same-sex couples to get married, and to adopt children unrelated to them. Married lesbian couples will also be allowed to have children through sperm donation, currently legal only for married heterosexual couples.
It will also make it easier for foreign spouses of a Swiss individual to get citizenship.
Swiss Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter told a media briefing the new rules would likely come into force on July 1 next year.
In a separate referendum, 64.9% of Swiss voters rejected a proposal to introduce a capital gains tax.
REUTERS
