Respect for international law and its advancement have always had a high priority in Swiss foreign policy. They contribute to its coherence and credibility. As the "juridical conscience" of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) and the federal government‘s centre of excellence for international law, the Directorate of Public International Law (DPIL) addresses juridical questions connected with Switzerland’s international relations.

The Directorate of Public International Law has three principal objectives:

• It safeguards the interests of Switzerland and its citizens in matters related to international law.
• It ensures that the Swiss authorities interpret and apply international law correctly, both at home and abroad.
• It makes every effort to ensure that international law is respected and refined, particularly in the forum of the United Nations (UN).

The Directorate’s most important fields of activity are as follows:

• It takes part in the negotiation, conclusion and implementation of agreements under international law.
• It works for the enforcement of Swiss legal claims vis-à-vis foreign countries and bodies.
• It advises the head of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Federal Council on questions of international law and assists them with the formulation of foreign policy.
• It provides Swiss embassies and consulates, and other federal administrative bodies, with assistance on matters related to international law.

Recent developments in increasing numbers of areas mean that national rules and agreements are no longer sufficient: they must be international. Examples include police, justice, customs inspections, environment protection and communication. This led to a has significant increase in the number of fields in which the Directorate of Public International Law is active. The Swiss Maritime Navigation Office, which is based in Basel, is attached to the Directorate.

The Director of the DPIL also acts as legal advisor to the FDFA and its departmental head. He conducts negotiations and monitors the refinement and codification of international law, notably the work of the International Law Commission and of the Sixth Committee of the UN General Assembly. He is assisted in this by the international law development service.