Rapid and unhindered access for humanitarian organisations to civilians in armed conflict zones is essential. However, it is often impeded or refused. In two recent publications Switzerland advocates improvements in this area: The Manual provides a summary of the relevant rules of international law; the Guidelines are designed for humanitarian practitioners concerned with the question of access.

 Humanitarian access in situations of armed conflict: Handbook on the Normative Framework (pdf, 655 Kb)

 Humanitarian access in situations of armed conflict: Field Manual (pdf, 1896 Kb)

Publication: 2011 
Number of pages: 42 (Handbook), 80 (Field Manual)
Language: en

© FDFA

 
In its foreign policy, Switzerland is active on behalf of peace, respect for human rights and the protection of displaced persons and refugees. This brochure will explain how Switzerland pursues these policies, what priorities it sets, what contributions it makes and what challenges it is confronted with. You will also learn about people who are mediating in conflicts, observing elections and working on behalf of peace and compliance with human rights.

 For Peace, Human Rights and Security (pdf, 1874 Kb) 

Publication: 2012
Number of pages: 44
Languages: de/fr/it/en 
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Price: free

© FDFA

The United Nations Security Council approved resolution 1325 on 31 October 2000. The resolution was the first to address the specific effects of armed conflict on women and girls. It also stresses the importance of the participation of women in peace processes. Switzerland bases its activities to implement the resolution on a national action plan for peace promotion. The brochure “Women, Peace and Security” provides information on the overall legal and political context of the resolution and the measures that have been undertaken.

 Women, Peace and Security (pdf, 1519 Kb)

Publication: 2010
Number of pages: 24
Languages: de/fr/it/en

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Millions of civilian victims of violence and war are subjected to forced displacement, hostage-taking, rape, torture, extrajudicial executions and massacres. With his strategy the FDFA reinforces its commitment to the protection of civilians in armed conflict through coherent, targeted, effective an efficient action.

 Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict (pdf, 444 Kb) 

Publication: 2009
Number of pages: 21
Languages: fr/en

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In 1997, Switzerland ratified the International Convention on the Elimination of All Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). This year, Switzerland will submit a report to the relevant UN committee in New York on the status of implementation of the Convention. In a new, easy-to-read brochure, the FDFA and the Federal Office for Gender Equality (FOGE) explain the new law.

 CEDAW – brochure (fr) (pdf, 927 Kb) 

Publication: 2009
Number of pages: 55
Languages: de/fr/it 

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 www.bundespublikationen.ch
Price: free

© FDFA

The ABC of Human Rights explains the most important concepts and terms of human rights. The publication is also available as a brochure. It gives an overview of the history, development and implementation of human rights, and brings the reader up to date on the current debate on this subject. In a separate section, it provides an extensive glossary of terms and definitions.

 ABC of Human Rights (pdf, 431 Kb) 

Publication: 2008
Number of pages: 60
Languages: de/fr/it/en

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The german version is only available in PDF.

 Online ABC of Human Rights

As a complement to the ABC of Human Rights, the Compendium for the Protection of Human Rights is now available. This collection of sources contains all the texts that are relevant for Switzerland in an abridged form: the main international human rights protection treaties ratified by Switzerland, the fundamental agreements on international humanitarian law and a number of important agreements that have not yet been ratified by Switzerland. The publication is rounded off with a general introduction and a table showing the current ratification status. (1475 p., German; French version in preparation; available from bookshops, price Fr. 68.)

© FDFA

The ABC of International Humanitarian Law is essentially a glossary of terms explaining the key concepts of international humanitarian law, which is also known as the law of armed conflict. It is available both on-line and in brochure form. Together with the glossary, there is a short introduction on the development and area of application of this special field of international law.

 ABC of International Humanitarian Law (pdf, 698 Kb) 

Publication: 2009
Number of pages: 44
Languages: de/fr/it/en 
 

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 Online ABC of International Humanitarian Law