Switzerland reinforces engagement at the International Labour Organization (ILO)

30.05.2016 — Press releases Mission Geneva

Geneva - 30.05.2016 - Guest of honour at the opening ceremony of the International Labour Conference (ILC), the President of the Swiss Confederation called on the tripartite constituents of the ILO (governments, employers, workers) to endeavour to establish framework conditions which favour the creation of decent employment. Johann N. Schneider-Ammann signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Guy Ryder, the ILO’s Director-General, which seeks a reinforced development cooperation between Switzerland and the ILO.

Alain Berset opened the World Health Asssembly

23.05.2016 — Press releases Mission Geneva

Geneva, 23.05.2016: Federal councillor Alain Berset pronounced the opening speech of the 69th World Health Assembly. WHO reforms and health within the Programme of sustainable development at the heart of debates.

700 students imagine Switzerland of tomorrow in meeting the UNO sustainable development goals

22.04.2016 — Press releases Mission Geneva

Geneva, 22.04.2016: UN doors opened to more than 700 students, aged 10 to 19, from all Switzerland. They participated to the  5^th edition of the Eduki contest on international cooperation.

Switzerland launches Foreign Policy Action Plan on Preventing Violent Extremism

08.04.2016 — Press releases Mission Geneva

Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), unveiled Switzerland’s Foreign Policy Action Plan on Preventing Violent Extremism at the Geneva Conference on Preventing Violent Extremism co-organised by the UN and Switzerland on 7 and 8 April 2016. Switzerland is using this initiative to contribute towards combating terrorism through preventative measures by strengthening the resilience of individuals and communities. The UN Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism launched in December 2015 was in turn well supported by the high-ranking state representatives attending the conference who also highlighted the UN’s key role in this area.

President of the Swiss Confederation visits CERN and ICRC

24.03.2016 — Local news Mission Geneva

President of the Swiss Confederation Johann N. Schneider-Ammann has met with the new Director General of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) Fabiola Gianotti. He then visited the logistics centre of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Satigny. The visit was followed by a meeting with Peter Maurer, President of ICRC.

Happy Birthday Human Rights Council !

29.02.2016 — Press releases Mission Geneva

Switzerland steps up its commitment to human rights with a new strategy for the 2016–2019 period. 

Sport for peace and development

21.01.2016 — Press releases Mission Geneva

Strengthening synergies between international organizations and international sports federations based in Switzerland

In war, the law cannot remain silent

08.12.2015 — Local news Mission Geneva

Swiss President of the Confederation Simonetta Sommaruga opens the 32nd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.

Water management as a channel of trust and cooperation for peace

16.11.2015 — Press releases Mission Geneva

Geneva, 16.11.2015: Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter launches the Global High-Level Panel on Water and Peace

International Geneva guest of honor of Cité des métiers

03.11.2015 — Local news Mission Geneva

Geneva, 03.11.2015 - Jobs  related to peace, rights and well-being presented to students at the most important Swiss career fair on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the United Nations

Geneva celebrates 70 years of UN

24.10.2015 — Local news Mission Geneva

Great popular success for the Open Doors at the "Palais des Nations"

On the way up to the World Humanitarian Summit

15.10.2015 — Position Mission Geneva

Geneva, 15.10.2015 – Strengthening action to respond to ever increasing growing needs. Switzerland contributes to more effective humanitarian aid.

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.