COVID-19 has an impact on our lives in Switzerland and abroad. The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) summarises the most important information regarding travelling and living abroad in its COVID-19 news ticker. The information is constantly being added to.

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.

Formerly head of the Humanitarian Aid Department at the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), 75-year-old Toni Frisch has channelled his energies over the past six years into coordinating humanitarian aid in eastern Ukraine. Following the end of his term of office at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in June, now is the perfect time to spotlight his wealth of experience and forthright championing of those most in need.

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.

On 5 September 2021 Switzerland and Australia celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations, as well as their enduring friendship. One of the oldest surviving civilisations in the world, cutting-edge Swiss technology, cultural exchanges, scientific cooperation, acclaimed wines, and a patch of the Australian natural world in Switzerland are the subject of six emblematic stories to mark the 60th anniversary of Swiss-Australian diplomatic relations.

From 1 to 6 August, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis is travelling to Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. Switzerland maintains specific and long-standing relations with the three countries. All three are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) – an important regional organisation for Switzerland. The region is also home to many Swiss nationals. On the trip, Mr Cassis hopes to gain an insight into how Swiss expatriate communities are faring in times of COVID.

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.

Saype, a French artist living in the Swiss Jura, creates giant paintings out of grass and sand to call for world peace. Saype's eco-friendly grass paintings, like the one currently at the United Nations in New York, pop up and perish around the world in the space of a few days. The latest painting, which Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis presented to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, stands for the joint effort to create a future for everyone.

What will it take to ensure that the world's population has an adequate supply of healthy food in future? The UN's Food Systems Summit in September 2021 will focus on sustainable food systems which also help to protect biodiversity and the climate. National discussions were held on this topic in Switzerland between March and June 2021 as part of the preparations. A progress review is now being undertaken in Rome. Christine Schneeberger is attending this event as a member of the Swiss delegation.

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.

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.

In Switzerland, solutions are generally sought in consultation with all stakeholders. Swiss diplomacy is also based on this principle, and seeks to facilitate dialogue, for example through good offices. Geneva can be offered as a venue for political talks, and the city will play host to the summit between the US and Russian presidents on 16 June.

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.

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.

26 June marks the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, as the UN Convention against Torture entered into force on this date 34 years ago. Combating torture is a priority of Swiss foreign policy. Ms Jenny Piaget, Head of the Human Rights Diplomacy Section at the State Secretariat of the FDFA, outlines Switzerland's commitment to the fight against torture and to the rehabilitation of torture victims.

Taking action in the UN Human Rights Council, raising human rights issues in political talks, and supporting projects to strengthen human rights: just three examples of the instruments that Switzerland uses to promote the universal protection of human rights. This goal is laid down in the Foreign Policy Strategy 2020–23, and the Human Rights Guidelines 2021–24 now being launched by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) set out how the goal is to be achieved. This requires steadfastness and patience, says Ambassador Simon Geissbühler, Head of Peace and Security at the State Secretariat of the FDFA.

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.

The operation was conducted by the FDFA in collaboration with the competent authorities in Switzerland and abroad, including those in charge of the camp the children were in.

Il Departament federal d'affars exteriurs profita da la «Settimana della lingua italiana nel mondo» per dar l'attenziun a la terza lingua naziunala. En il center stattan las collavuraturas ed ils collavuraturs dal DFAE che preschentan respectivamain fan endament il patrimoni linguistic e cultural da la Svizra taliana. Rapports da Berna e da Madrid.

The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs is showcasing Switzerland's third national language to mark this year's Week of the Italian Language in the World. The FDFA's Italian speakers are leading the effort to raise awareness and understanding of the linguistic and cultural heritage of Italian-speaking Switzerland. We travel to Bern and Madrid to learn more.

Expo 2020 opens in Dubai on 1 October for six months. A strategic region, a pavilion with an ambitious design, and an opportunity to showcase Switzerland's openness to the world: Manuel Salchli, who has been appointed commissioner general of the Swiss Pavilion, explains the key points of the event, which runs until 31 March 2022.

Switzerland fights vigorously against cluster munitions. Unfortunately, these weapons, which cause significant humanitarian damage, are still in use today. Like some hundred other states parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, Switzerland is committed to halting their proliferation and promotes the universalisation of the Convention.

In the run-up to International Mine Awareness Day on 4 April, the FDFA has published its 2020 annual report on Switzerland's mine action strategy. Switzerland is one of the ten largest donors to humanitarian demining efforts worldwide and is strengthening the capacity of local demining teams, providing assistance to victims, and promoting existing international conventions.

The UN's Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) enters into force on 22 January 2021. Switzerland has not yet ratified the treaty, which was negotiated without the nuclear powers and their allies, but will reexamine its position at a later date. In the meantime, it will continue working actively and on a number of fronts to support arms control and nuclear disarmament, which are priorities of Swiss foreign policy.

The three Geneva centres have been supporting global peace and reform processes for 25 years: using dialogue, training courses and graphic examples. On 26 November, Federal Councillor Cassis congratulated two of them on their milestone birthdays in a special message. The centres are important partners in Switzerland’s pursuit of its security and peace policy objectives, and boost International Geneva's standing as a cornerstone of multilateralism.

Xavier Mertz was the first Swiss polar explorer to set foot in Antarctica in 1911, but his drive to explore the region came at a bitter price. Although polar exploration today is less dramatic, it is even more urgent than ever before. To mark Swiss Polar Day, the head of the FDFA's Prosperity and Sustainability Division, Stefan Estermann, talks about the role Swiss polar research has to play and how Switzerland is stepping up its commitment to scientific diplomacy.

The establishment of CERN in Geneva in 1954 played its own part in the reconstruction of post-Second World War Europe. The man behind the initiative was Professor Herwig Schopper. Now, at the age of 97, this wise man is still a champion of peace and scientific development and is working on the creation of new institutes in different strategic regions of the world.

New technologies are becoming increasingly important to foreign policy: what opportunities does digitalisation bring and which aspects need to be regulated? International Geneva provides a platform for Switzerland in promoting dialogue between the scientific and diplomatic communities. The Federal Council seeks to strengthen Geneva's role as a digital governance hub and has now appointed Ambassador Alexandre Fasel as the first special representative for science diplomacy in Geneva.

The FDFA supports the ETH Zurich in the production of affordable ventilators in the Ukraine. On June 30, 2020, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis and the Ukrainian Ambassador to Switzerland, Artem Rybchenko, signed an agreement to provide start-up funding for an ETH project that will make such ventilators affordable for newly industrialized (NIC) and developing countries.