The Division for Security Policy and Crisis Management (DSEC) is part of the Directorate of Political Affairs and is responsible for dealing with questions of domestic and international security. Its activities are divided into the following three areas: security policy, in particular arms control; the Crisis Management Centre, which deals with crisis prevention and provides advice to Swiss travellers; a historical and documentation service and a conference service. 

Security policy
In the area of security policy, the DSEC deals with questions of international security, arms control, and disarmament.

• International security: The DSEC is responsible for maintaining contacts between the FDFA and the intelligence services of the Confederation. It monitors the development of the international security architecture and the various actors involved.
• Arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation: In these areas, the DSEC is responsible for co-ordinating the policy positions of the FDFA, participating in and leading Swiss delegations, and implementing specific projects with other countries in the field of disarmament.

In this framework, the DSEC organises multilateral meetings and workshops in co-operation with international organizations that deal with international security, arms control and disarmament, and the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (nuclear, chemical, biological).

The principal tasks and activities of the KMZ are the following:

• Management: under the lead of the head of the FDFA, the KMZ guides and co-ordinates the full range of means at the disposal of the Confederation to assist Swiss nationals abroad who have fallen victim to a crisis or emergency situation.
• Crisis unit: the KMZ can activate a crisis unit or an interdepartmental task force at any time which then remains on call until the crisis has been resolved.
• Intervention pool: In times of need, the KMZ activates the FDFA Crisis Intervention Pool which comprises 270 voluntary specialists deployed around the world.
• Monitoring system: The KMZ has a system for monitoring the international situation and an early warning system for alerting Swiss nationals about events that could affect them adversely.
• Advice to travellers: In the area of prevention, the KMZ manages the FDFA’s internet pages that provide travel advice to Swiss nationals abroad (on 157 countries) in co-ordination with Swiss embassies and consulates abroad and relying on many sources of information, including the Federal Intelligence Service (FIS). This travel advice is also available on Twitter (@travel_edadfae).
• Preparation: The KMZ ensures close contact with its partners (federal departments, crisis centres of other foreign ministries, private assistance services, the tourism industry, NGOs and Swiss businesses active abroad). The KMZ carries out crisis-preparedness missions at Switzerland’s representations abroad.
• Training: The KMZ is continually re-assessing the instruments at its disposal for managing crises, and it particates in training FDFA personnel on crisis management.

Services 

The DSEC is also provided with a Service and Documentation Centre:

• The Historical Service carries out studies and research on the history of Switzerland and the historical aspects of Swiss foreign policy.
• The Political Documentation Service registers and archives the political reports of the representations abroad as well as reports on events relevant to foreign policy. It also publishes the specialist journal “Politorbis”.
• Conferences Service organises, among other such events, the annual Ambassadors’ Conference.