Switzerland / Der Schweiz / Suisse
Switzerland was not a member of the UN or the EEC during apartheid years and government did not ratify international conventions and declarations. Swiss banks played a significant role in assisting South African companies and banks to circumvent sanctions. Switzerland also played an important role in the world gold trade.
The first anti-apartheid activities started in 1964 during the Rivonia Trial and in 1965 the Movement Against Apartheid Geneve (MAAG) started with information work and fundraising for the legal defence of political prisoners. MAAG was the starting point for the national movement against apartheid in Switzerland.
Anti-Apartheid Organisations/People
Swiss Anti-Apartheid Movement / Mouvement Anti-Apartheid Suisse (MAAS) / Anti-Apartheid Bewegung der Schweiz (AAB)
MAAS was founded in 1965 as the Genève-based anti-apartheid organisation MAAG in the French speaking part of Switzerland; it changed its name to MAAS in 1970 and to the AAB in 1974. It was active in consumer boycott, tourism, arms trade, and scientific campaigns and against banks dealing with South Africa. The AAB initiated the establishment of two other organisations: the Früchtenboykott (Fruit Boycott) and the Aktion Finanzplaze Schweiz-Dritte Welt. The AAB changed its name to AAB Südliches Afrika in 1994 and MAAS dissolved in the same year.
The Basler Afrika Bibliographien holds the entire archive, covering the period 1973-2003.
The Basler Afrika Bibliographien also holds a substantial poster collection of more than 3000 posters from the solidarity and anti-apartheid movement in Europe.
The Swiss Social Archive also holds a substantial collection covering the period 1973-2003. It contains minutes, campaign materials, correspondence and publications.
