Many Swiss nationals travelling abroad ask the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA for recommendations and advice on their journey. A list of questions and answers.

In this guest article for the NZZ, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis takes his own look back at an extraordinary year – a whirlwind 12 months that left little time for reflection amid ever-changing case numbers. Cassis addresses a number of questions. Who decides how much a human life is worth? How important are open borders? And how will we make sense of it all whenever normality returns?

On Monday evening, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis was a guest on the programme "60 Minuti" on RSI. The head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) spoke about the importance of federalism in Switzerland and the measures adopted by the Federal Council to combat the COVID 19 pandemic. Among other things, personal responsibility and mutual solidarity are decisive factors in the fight against the pandemic.

Poor sanitary conditions pose a health risk. This is a major problem, particularly because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But even today, one third of the world's population has no adequate access to clean water. To help people living poverty protect themselves during the current pandemic, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is supporting hygiene awareness campaigns and the creation of more handwashing stations.

On World Refugee Day, we are in Geneva where a new hub has taken up residence at the UNHCR. Launched by Switzerland and the UN refugee agency, the Geneva Technical Hub is a centre of expertise dedicated to the greening of humanitarian action.

In late May, thirty tonnes of relief supplies were sent from Switzerland to Nepal to help the country in its battle against COVID-19. According to Elisabeth von Capeller, the Swiss ambassador to Nepal, the delivery illustrates how to effectively combine development cooperation and emergency aid: Switzerland can react quickly to Nepal's requests for help while using its long-standing development cooperation partnership with the country to open up access and strengthen systems on the ground.

Switzerland deems the starvation of civilians as a method of warfare to be a war crime, regardless of the type of conflict (international or civil war). It has proposed that the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) be amended so as to have this recognised more widely at international level.

When missing people come home, this eases the burden on their families and stabilises society – an important prerequisite for future peace. On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Red Cross Central Tracing Agency, Switzerland pledges to continue supporting it.

Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania: the three European countries are celebrating 100 years of bilateral relations with Switzerland and 30 years of renewed ties after the end of the Soviet era. We asked the people working daily to build these relations what this centenary means to them.

From 3 to 8 April 2021, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis will visit Iraq, Oman and Lebanon. Switzerland's strategy for the Middle East and North Africa aims to strengthen bilateral relations in the region and thus promote peace, security and prosperity. The head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs will discuss these objectives with his counterparts in Iraq and Oman. While in Lebanon, he will also be updated on Switzerland's humanitarian work there.

In March, the European Parliament will decide whether or not to approve the new Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) agreed between the European Union and the United Kingdom on 24 December 2020. The agreement governs relations between the EU and the UK after the latter's departure from the EU (Brexit). It was signed on 30 December 2020 and has been applied provisionally since the beginning of the year.

At the end of January, Swiss Humanitarian Aid completed the first phase of its mission in Croatia. Some 20 mobile housing units for victims of the recent earthquake were delivered to the country's civil protection authorities. Ambassador Emilija Georgieva speaks to us from Zagreb about the embassy's role in Croatia and the good relations the two countries have cultivated over the years. Cooperation and dialogue emerged as the key themes.

Improving health coverage in poorer countries against the backdrop of COVID-19, using new technologies and humanitarian data more effectively, and understanding the humanitarian implications of climate change will be the focus of discussions at the forthcoming Humanitarian Affairs Segment (HAS) of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The multilateral meeting will take place in Geneva from 23 to 26 June 2021. Pascale Baeriswyl, head of the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the UN in New York and ECOSOC Vice President, will chair this year's HAS.

The world's population is growing and has to be 'fed', which is a major challenge with the resources currently available. For people to have affordable access to healthy food in the future, sustainable food systems have to be put in place – this is one of the key elements needed to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda. The 2021 UN Food Systems Summit will aim to provide answers.

The International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace is held on 24 April. It is an occasion that takes on great importance for Switzerland, whose foreign policy contributes towards a peaceful international order. It does so by bringing added value to multilateral bodies and by drawing on the strengths of International Geneva. In the following accounts, five individuals talk about their commitment to peace: diplomacy, mediation and dialogue are the order of the day.

Digital technologies are transforming the economy, society and international relations. As an economic and research hub, Switzerland seeks to maintain its privileged position alongside some of the world's most competitive actors. It actively supports the UN's normative framework to promote responsible state behaviour in the digital space and promotes multilateral cooperation in this area.

This year's launch of Mission August 1st marks the first time the FDFA is celebrating Switzerland's national holiday online. At the heart of the project is a multilingual and interactive website to help the Swiss community abroad and Swiss enthusiasts around the world celebrate this day together.

The FDFA advises caution and preparation when travelling during the summer holidays. Information on the regulations of the country of destination as well as on the rules for returning to Switzerland are prerequisites.

Summer is here! Switzerland offers many opportunities to spend the summer holidays, especially with children. However, if you still want to travel abroad with children this summer, it is important to find out about the entry requirements for the destination country before you leave. In the case of minor children travelling with only one parent or without a legal guardian, it is strongly recommended to draw up a declaration of consent.

More than 600 million children and young people worldwide are still deprived of an education. The UNESCO International Day of Education on 24 January reminds us of this and highlights the importance of education for equality of opportunity and for peace. Switzerland - with its high-quality school system and the successful recipe of dual vocational education and training - helps to create sustainable opportunities.

The Federal Council ordered a freeze on any assets of ousted Tunisian President Ben Ali and his entourage on 19 January 2011. Subsequently, a judicial cooperation between Tunisia and Switzerland was established. Within the framework of this cooperation, the judicial authorities ordered additional asset freezes. As a result, the expiration of the Federal Council's freezing order as of midnight on 18 January 2021 does not necessarily mean that the assets in question will be released.

Mountain regions are particularly threatened by the effects of climate change. Switzerland is committed to the sustainable development of the world's mountain regions and better living conditions for the especially vulnerable populations who inhabit these areas in developing countries. UN-designated International Mountain Day raises awareness of the importance and fragility of mountain ecosystems.

By supporting a new training programme for sanitary engineers, Swiss international cooperation is helping Ukraine switch from theory-based learning to a practice-based system. This gives young people job prospects in their own country. The public-private project underlines the importance of a holistic approach in international cooperation.

With the "House of Switzerland" and the Swiss Pavilion, Switzerland will showcase itself at the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris and at the 2025 World Expo in Osaka.

China has developed rapidly in recent decades. Relations between Switzerland and China are becoming closer all the time, but this also means that differing values are coming to light more frequently and more clearly than before. The number of actors in Switzerland who maintain contact with China is also rising. In light of this, the Federal Council adopted a new strategy for China at its meeting on 19 March. The strategy was drafted in a process that involved all government departments.

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis will be on an official visit to Africa from 7 to 13 February 2021. He will travel to Algeria, Mali, Senegal and The Gambia, where he will meet with government representatives to discuss implementation of the recently adopted FDFA strategies for the MENA region and sub-Saharan Africa. These set out Switzerland's future engagement in the two regions. Efforts will focus on four thematic areas derived from the Foreign Policy Strategy: peace, security and human rights; prosperity; sustainability; and digitalisation.

Africa is becoming increasingly relevant and presents new opportunities despite major challenges. On 13 January 2021, the Federal Council adopted the Sub-Saharan Africa Strategy through which it intends to implement the Foreign Policy Strategy in the countries south of the Sahara. For the first time, Switzerland is consolidating the various policy areas into a coherent overall approach. The aim is broad-based cooperation with its African partners on an equal footing.

Ambassador Patric Franzen wants to involve the embassies in the EU area even more in his work as head of the Europe Division in the FDFA.

On 26 May 2021 the Federal Council decided to stop negotiations on the institutional agreement with the EU. At a press conference following the Federal Council meeting, President of the Swiss Confederation Guy Parmelin and Federal Councillors Ignazio Cassis and Karin Keller-Sutter explained the reasons for this decision. Mr Cassis affirmed that Switzerland remains a reliable and committed partner to the EU even without the institutional agreement.

At its meeting on 26 May, the Federal Council undertook an overall evaluation of the outcome of the negotiations on the institutional framework agreement (InstA). It concluded that there remain substantial differences between Switzerland and the EU on key aspects of the agreement. The conditions are thus not met for the signing of the agreement. The Federal Council today took the decision not to sign the agreement, and communicated this decision to the EU. This brings the negotiations on the draft of the InstA to a close. The Federal Council nevertheless considers it to be in the shared interest of Switzerland and the EU to safeguard their well-established cooperation and to systematically maintain the agreements already in force. It therefore wishes to launch a political dialogue with the EU on continued cooperation. Meanwhile, it has tasked the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP) to consider how autonomous amendments to Swiss legislation might contribute to the stabilisation of Swiss–EU relations.

On 21 May 2021, 47 foreign ministers met online for the 131st Session of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers. They work as a team, also in the digital sphere. It is precisely the digital sphere that presents the Council of Europe with both a challenge and an opportunity to safeguard human rights, democracy and the rule of law not only in the physical world but also in cyberspace. Four Swiss experts working in the Council of Europe share their experiences.

For years, Switzerland has been working for peace and security at various levels. It will be participating in the UN Security Council's Open Debate of 25 May 2021 on the protection of civilians, and coordinating various side events on the topic throughout the week. Switzerland is seeking a non-permanent seat on the Security Council as a way to underpin its work for world peace and security.

The FDFA is launching a new version of the W'sHR app on 8 March 2021 in New York. The app facilitates negotiations and helps improve the efficiency of multilateral processes.

At the annual meeting of the 123 states that have ratified the Rome Statute – the basis of the International Criminal Court under international law – FDFA State Secretary Krystyna Marty Lang reiterated Switzerland's unequivocal support for the Court. Switzerland is thus contributing to the enforcement of international humanitarian law and human rights and is fighting impunity for the most serious crimes of all.

The respect of human rights forms the foundations for a lasting peace. This is the guiding principle behind Switzerland's commitment at the multilateral level, and the message is clear on 10 December, on the occasion of International Human Rights Day. In this context, we will look at Switzerland's joint action to abolish the death penalty and hear the story of a man condemned for an offence he allegedly committed as a minor.

Data collection and the production of statistics have evolved in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced statisticians to adapt again and again in order to be able to develop reliable and realistic indicators on global trends and developments. How is the relationship between policymakers and statistical offices evolving?

Fifty years on from first entering politics, women are increasingly well represented in the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). Livia Leu, FDFA State Secretary, and Tania Cavassini, FDFA Director of Resources, provide an update.

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis invited retiring and newly appointed staff from three different career paths within the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) to share knowledge and experiences with each other at a ceremony at the Bernerhof on Tuesday 31 August 2021.

Fatima Zahra, Amin, Myssa and Zakaria have come to Lugano to attend the Middle East Mediterranean Summer Summit (21–28 August 2021). Organised by the Università della Svizzera italiana with support from the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, the event provides a platform for many young men and women from the Middle East and North Africa region to share and flesh out ideas. Insights from the participants.