St. Mortiz by Walter Herdeg, 1937

Switzerland gave a thumbs up to same-sex marriage in a national referendum on Sunday.

Some 64% supported the measure, making it one of the last countries in western Europe to legalise same-sex marriage.

Campaigners have hailed the vote as a historic moment for LGBT rights in the country.

In the build up to the vote, church groups and conservative political parties opposed the idea, saying it would undermine the traditional family.

Switzerland has allowed same-sex couples to register partnerships since 2007, but some rights are restricted.

Switzerland is more conservative than many people realize. Women did not have the right to vote there until 1971. That makes this move more weighty.

This strong vote in favor of LGBTQ rights will hopefully be noticed by countries which are members of international organizations based in Geneva.