Strengthening International Humanitarian Law at the 33rd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent

09.12.2019 — Local news Mission Geneva
Federal Councilor Ignazio Cassis pleaded for the reinforcement of international humanitarian law on the occasion of the opening of the 33rd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent to be held from 9 to 12 December in Geneva. In his speech, Mr. Cassis emphasized on the importance of the work of the more than 17 million volunteers who are and make the movement of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.

Mountains and Climate Change

29.10.2019 — Press releases Mission Geneva

Triple exhibition for the centenary of multilateralism in Geneva

08.10.2019 — Local news Mission Geneva
The United Nations Office at Geneva, the International Committe of the Red Cross and the Martin Bodmer foundation collaborate for a triple exhibition to celebrate 100 years of multilateral diplomacy in Geneva.

The Confederation and the Canton and City of Geneva pay tribute to 100 years of multilateralism and the city's role as a centre for global governance

16.09.2019 — Press releases Mission Geneva
Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Ignazio Cassis, President of the Geneva State Council Antonio Hodgers and Administrative Councillor of the City of Geneva Sami Kanaan have signed a joint declaration underscoring the key role played by International Geneva in addressing future challenges. The joint declaration pays tribute to 100 years of multilateralism and reaffirms the commitment of the Swiss government and the Canton and City of Geneva to International Geneva's role as a centre of global governance. The signing ceremony was followed by the presentation of a volume of key Swiss diplomatic documents going back to the establishment of the League of Nations a century ago.

On the Mont Blanc for Social Justice

04.09.2019 — Local news Mission Geneva
Representatives of workers, employers and the French and Swiss governments marked the ILO’s 100^th anniversary on the top of the Alps.

APPEL A PROJETS - Plateforme journalistique sur la Genève internationale

26.07.2019 — Local news Mission Geneva
La Confédération, le Canton et la Ville de Genève lancent un appel à projets pour une plateforme journalistique sur la Genève internationale.  

Social partnership serve prosperity

18.06.2019 — Press releases Mission Geneva
At ILO, Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin underlines need of investments in training for managing opportunities and risks of digitalization.

UN Blue Book : Diplomatic titles in French will be feminized

12.06.2019 — Press releases Mission Geneva
The initiative, launched by Switzerland and realized thanks to the commitment of the International Organisation of La Francophonie, was enthusiastically endorsed by the Director General of the UN in Geneva as a contribution to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goal 5.

Federal Councillor Alain Berset opens the Centennial Conference of the International Labor Organization (ILO)

10.06.2019 — Press releases Mission Geneva
On the occasion of the opening of the 108th Session of the International Labor Conference, the Federal Councillor recalled the importance of social partnership, education, social protection and justice as fundamental elements for the future work.

Berset opens the 72nd World Health Assembly

20.05.2019 — Press releases Mission Geneva
Universal health coverage with better access to medical services in the focus of WHO’s meeting.

Joining forces against natural disasters: international conference on disaster risk reduction opens in Geneva today

15.05.2019 — Press releases Mission Geneva
The Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) was opened by SDC Director General Manuel Sager on 15 May. The international conference, which runs until 17 May, will see over 4,000 experts from some 150 countries discuss global policies on natural disaster prevention. The results are expected to guide UN policy in this area.

Ignazio Cassis marks centenary of International Labour Organization with António Guterres and meets UN executive heads

10.05.2019 — Press releases Mission Geneva
On 8 May 2019, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis travelled to Geneva to commemorate with António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, the 100th anniversary of the International Labour Organization (ILO). The creation of the ILO and – in the same year – the League of Nations, marked the beginning of multilateralism in Geneva. The head of the FDFA took the opportunity to meet the 31 heads of the UN specialised agencies, which are holding a meeting from 8 to 10 May 2019 in Geneva.

Switzerland to co-host second Global Refugee Forum in Geneva

12.12.2023 — Press releases Mission Geneva
Together with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Switzerland will host the second Global Refugee Forum from 13 to 15 December 2023 in Geneva. The main objective of the forum is to bolster the effectiveness of aid provided to people fleeing from violence and crises, and to improve global coordination in this regard. The forum will take stock of the implementation of the Global Compact on Refugees to date and seek to strengthen the commitment of the international community in this area. At the forum, Switzerland will reaffirm its support for the protection and integration of refugees both in Switzerland and abroad. In addition to the federal government, Swiss cantons, cities and civil society will contribute to this effort.

75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: President Berset opens conference in Geneva

12.12.2023 — Press releases Mission Geneva
Geneva, 12.12.2023 - In the aftermath of the Second World War and with the aim of preventing its atrocities for all time, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was proclaimed in Paris on 10 December 1948 in accordance with a resolution of the UN General Assembly. President Alain Berset paid tribute to the 75th anniversary of this historic step on Tuesday, 12 December 2023, at a high-level conference in Geneva.

Two Swiss Ministers at the ILC

14.06.2023 — Press releases Mission Geneva
Two Ministers, Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin and Swiss President Alain Berset, spoke at the 111th International Labour Conference in Geneva. 

Ignazio Cassis opens Human Rights Council

27.02.2023 — Press releases Mission Geneva
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, Head of the Federal Department for Foreign Affairs, opened the 52nd session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva on 27 February 2023. FC Cassis also moderated the High-Level Pledging Conference on Yemen, held back to back with the Council. Switzerland engages in favor of dialogue, peace, and lasting reconstruction, including with a support for education in emergencies.

Ukraine Recovery Conference 2022

21.06.2022 — Press releases Mission Geneva

Davos 2022: Geneva Day

23.05.2022 — Press releases Mission Geneva
At the World Economic Forum 2022 in Davos, the Geneva Day focused on the future of work, digital trust, and new technologies.

Federal Councillor Berset opens World Meteorological Congress

12.10.2021 — Press releases Mission Geneva
Federal Councillor Alain Berset officially opened an extraordinary session of the World Meteorological Congress in Geneva. The Congress will focus on WMO reform, WMO support for the global water agenda and the Earth System Data Exchange.

Humanitarian aid for Afghanistan: Switzerland pledges 33 million francs

13.09.2021 — Press releases Mission Geneva

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis welcomed participants during the opening of the Ministerial Conference called by the UN Secretary-General on humanitarian aid to the Afghan people, held on Monday, 13 September 2021 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

Press release

More coordinated emergency humanitarian action

25.06.2021 — Press releases Mission Geneva
Finding new ways to respond to challenges exacerbated by COVID-19. This was one of the key issues discussed at the humanitarian affairs segment (HAS) of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), which was held in Geneva from 23 to 25 June 2021 and was chaired by Switzerland. A resolution to strengthen coordination of humanitarian aid was adopted, sending an important political signal.

Switzerland pledges CHF 14 million for humanitarian aid in Yemen

01.03.2021 — Press releases Mission Geneva
FDFA head and Vice President of Switzerland Ignazio Cassis pledged a CHF 14 million humanitarian aid package at an online conference to raise funds for the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.

Switzerland hosts an informal WTO ministerial meeting

29.01.2021 — Press releases Mission Geneva
At the invitation of Guy Parmelin, President of the Swiss Confederation, a virtual informal ministerial meeting was held on 29 January on WTO-related issues. Among those taking part were ministers responsible for WTO affairs and WTO Deputy Director General Alan Wolff. The event was held in place of the traditional informal WTO ministerial meeting chaired by Switzerland on the fringes of the WEF Annual Meeting in Davos. Participants discussed trade policy challenges and priorities ahead of the twelfth WTO Ministerial Conference, particularly in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

73rd World Health Assembly

18.05.2020 — Press releases Mission Geneva
This year’s World Health Assembly is taking place under special circumstances; due to the COVID-19 pandemic it is a virtual event with a reduced agenda. President Simonetta Sommaruga represented Switzerland at the World Health Organization conference on Monday, 18 May. Ms Sommaruga commended the work of the Geneva-based organisation and gave an assurance of Switzerland’s support.

Ignazio Cassis opens the 55th session of the Human Rights Council

26.02.2024 — Article Mission Geneva
"Nothing can be taken for granted, neither Human Rights nor peace." With these words, Federal Coucilor Ignazio Cassis opened the 55th session of the Human Rights Council.

World Economic Forum 2024

16.01.2024 — Article Mission Geneva
Since AI came into the spotlight, risks have received a great deal of media attention. AI also offers countless opportunities that deserve to be better known and exploited. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, an event on AI explored these opportunities, with Federal Councillor Albert Rösti.

The Swiss Mission joins the Geneva Decarbonization Charter

12.12.2023 — Local news Mission Geneva
On 12 December 2023, Ambassador Anna Ifkovits Horner signed, on behalf of Switzerland, a decarbonization Charter aiming at minimizing the carbon print of international Geneva, together with 39 international organizations.

President Berset opens WHA, WMC

22.05.2023 — Mission Geneva
In Geneva at the occasion of the World Health Assembly and World Meteorological Congress, Swiss President Alain Berset opened the session of both governing bodies of these organizations, that are celebrating their 75th and 150th anniversary this year, respectively.

Saving energy

10.10.2022 — Local news Mission Geneva

Switzerland's energy supply is secure. The Swiss federal government has however published recommendations for saving energy against the backdrop of energy shortages in Europe.

Current situation

Strengthening security and supply 

Contribuer aux économies d'énergie (FR, DE, IT)

Espace Kofi-Annan inaugurated at Geneva Airport

04.10.2022 — Local news Mission Geneva
A new delegates lounge named after the former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan was inaugurated on 3 October 2022 by local and national authorities, the UNOG Director-General and Ms. Annan.

OECD Ambassadors visit Geneva

13.09.2022 — Local news Mission Geneva
Ambassadors of Member States of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), as well as OECD's Secretary-General and Secretariat, visited the Palais des Nations as well as international organizations headquartered in Geneva including the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the International Labor Office (ILO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO), as well as the Geneva Science-Policy Anticipator (GESDA). The purpose of this visit was to reinforce collaboration and cooperation between international organizations as well as between Host and Member States.

Federal Councillor Berset opens the 75th World Health Assembly

22.05.2022 — Local news Mission Geneva
On Sunday, 22 May, Federal Councillor Alain Berset opened the 75th World Assembly and advocated for a strong WHO with the necessary means and authoritativeness to support Member States, including during pandemics.

Federal Councillor Sommaruga celebrates press freedom

05.05.2022 — Local news Mission Geneva
Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga and UN High-Commissioner to Human Rights Michelle Bachelet highlighted how important the freedom of the press is to democracy, on 4 May 2022 in Geneva. Journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov, Nobel Peace Prize laureates in 2022, participated to the World Press Freedom Day.

International Cooperation Forum 2022

04.04.2022 — Local news Mission Geneva
Swiss President Ignazio Cassis opened the International Cooperation Forum 2022 in Geneva on 31 March 2022.

Yemen Pledging Conference

16.03.2022 — Local news Mission Geneva

Switezrland and Sweden co-hosted a pledging conference on 14 March 2022. Switzerland pleadged 14,5 millions francs for humanitarian response

EDA Press Release

Faces of Switzerland at the UN

02.03.2022 — Article Mission Geneva
Switzerland is Host State of the United Nations in Europe since 1945 (and before that was Host State of the League of Nations) and became a Member State of the UN on 10 September 2002.