Switzerland and OHCHR stress importance of freedom of the press and freedom of opinion and expression

01.09.2020 — Local news Mission Geneva
Around the world, the work of journalists has become more difficult in recent years. In many places, press freedom is being restricted. Under the heading of ‘Journalists at risk - Let's protect media freedom!’, President Simonetta Sommaruga and Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, issued a joint invitation to an event in Geneva, providing a platform for journalists concerned.

Switzerland celebrates 75 years of the United Nations

26.06.2020 — Local news Mission Geneva

On 26 June 2020, the United Nations celebrated the 75th anniversary of the adoption of its Charter. On this occasion, Switzerland wished to pay tribute to its fundamental role in international cooperation and the construction of the future by offering a gift in the form of an ephemeral eco-responsible fresco by the artist SAYPE. The artwork, a symbol of collaboration on future challenges, will brighten up the park of the Palais des Nations for several weeks.

Restart of the Jet d'eau: Geneva regains its symbol

11.06.2020 — Local news Mission Geneva
Out of service since March 20 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Jet d'eau is again operative. It was restarted by Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreysus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), together with Ms. Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva. A symbolic gesture to mark the importance of international cooperation in the fight against the pandemic, made at the invitation of Antonio Hodgers, President of the State Council, and Christian Brunier, Director General of Services Industriels de Genève (SIG).

Socio-economic impact of COVID-19 in LMICs

04.06.2020 — Local news Mission Geneva
Friends of SDG Financing virtual meeting on the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 in developing countries and building back better.

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.

Geneva Airport dedicates its protocol salon to Kofi Annan

08.04.2020 — Press releases Mission Geneva
Today, the former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, would have been 82 years old. On this occasion, Geneva Airport announces that its protocol lounge will be renamed "Espace Kofi Annan." This gesture honours a man who unceasingly fought for international cooperation to tackle global challenges, something which has never been more relevant than today, given the global crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Switzerland at the vanguard of human rights

25.02.2020 — Press releases Mission Geneva
2019 marked 100 years of multilateralism in Geneva, one of the key themes of which is the protection of human rights. 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, whose Charter places fundamental rights and human dignity at the heart of efforts to ensure peace and sustainable development. "Reaffirming, promoting and defending these common values is a task for all of us," said Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis at the opening of the spring session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on 24 February 2020.

Geneva meets Davos for global good

22.01.2020 — Press releases Mission Geneva
Big crowds at the “Geneva Day” hosted by the House of Switzerland in Davos on the occasion of the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum. Conceived as a meeting point between global governance institutions and WEF participants, the “Geneva Day” explored new paths for international cooperation to advance sustainable and inclusive development.

"Geneva Day" at the World Economic Forum 2020 in Davos

06.01.2020 — Local news Mission Geneva
The Annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos will convene leaders from business, academia, government, international organizations and civil society to build a “more coherent and sustainable world”. Leaders will flock to the Swiss village to explore new ideas and learn about new developments that will affect their organisations. For the second time, the Swiss Confederation will contribute to the discussions with a “House of Switzerland” (HoS), which will serve as the base of the Swiss delegation as well as a platform where debates on global issues will be held.

Geneva Solutions: the journalistic platform on international Geneva

20.12.2019 — Press releases Mission Geneva
Geneva Solutions, a digital editorial offer, was selected as the best of the proposals submitted in response to the call for projects launched by the Confederation, the Canton and the City of Geneva to create a journalistic platform on the work of organizations that provide public services worldwide from Geneva.

First Global Refugee Forum in Geneva brought together actors committed to finding shared solutions

17.12.2019 — Mission Geneva
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis has opened the Global Refugee Forum together with UN Secretary-General António Guterres and UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi. The purpose of the forum, which took place on 17 and 18 December at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, was to find shared solutions to meet the needs of refugees and their host communities.

The first edition of the Young Activists Summit in Geneva awards six young women as drivers of progress

10.12.2019 — Local news Mission Geneva
Promoting the image of young women and girls as drivers of progress, encouraging them to take action and fostering solidarity among girls and young people: these were the main aims of the Young Activists Summit that was held on 10 December 2019 in the symbolic Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations room at the "Palais des Nations" in Geneva. Nobel Peace Prize winner Nadia Murad as the guest of honour of this first edition.

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.