72nd Session of the UN General Assembly: Didier Burkhalter in New York to defend Switzerland's priorities

18.09.2017 — Media release EDA
Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), attended the opening session of the 72nd General Assembly of the United Nations on Monday in New York with the aim of building bridges and creating coalitions to defend key priorities of Switzerland's foreign policy.

Appointments: head of mission in Quito, assistant directors at the SDC and FOPH

15.09.2017 — Media release EDA
A number of staff changes have been announced for the Swiss representation in Quito, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Federal Office of Public Health of the Federal Department of Home Affairs. The changes will take place as part of the usual transfer rotation for 2017/18 and on the basis of appointments made by the Federal Council. In addition, the former deputy director general of the SDC, Thomas Greminger, has been appointed Secretary General of the OSCE. The appointment of head of mission in Quito becomes effective once the agrément of the receiving state has been given. The Federal Council has conferred the title of ambassador on the SDC and FOPH assistant directors.

Cyberangriff auf die Bundesverwaltung entdeckt und Massnahmen ergriffen

15.09.2017 — Media release EDA
Spezialisten des Bundes haben einen Angriff auf einzelne Server der Bundesverwaltung entdeckt und die notwendigen Massnahmen ergriffen. Der Bundesrat und die zuständigen politischen Gremien wurden über den Vorfall informiert. Bei der Bundesanwaltschaft wurden zwei Strafanzeigen gegen Unbekannt eingereicht.

Water, driver of peace: Global Panel on Water and Peace publishes recommendations

14.09.2017 — Media release EDA
"Since water supply is likely to become a major source of tension in the coming years, there is huge potential today to make water a key medium for cooperation and a driver of peace," the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, told the members of the Global Panel on Water and Peace. The panel chaired by former Slovenian President Danilo Türk was launched in November 2015. In Geneva on Thursday, its 15 member states presented the results of their work in the form of a set of recommendations to prevent and resolve water-related conflicts.

The first official visit to Bern by the Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations under the partnership agreement with Switzerland

13.09.2017 — Media release EDA
One year following the conclusion of the partnership agreement between Switzerland and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Secretary-General of the association, Lê Lương Minh, met Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter in Bern to discuss the results achieved to date, plus other significant regional and global economic and geostrategic issues. The meeting served to reaffirm the commitment made by Switzerland and ASEAN to strengthen mutual relations, especially in the areas of climate change, disaster risk prevention, advancement of human rights and sustainable development.

Positive review for Swiss 'Flower Power' at Expo 2017 in Astana

11.09.2017 — Media release EDA
This weekend, the doors closed on the Swiss pavilion at Expo 2017 in Astana, Kazakhstan. Presence Switzerland is pleased with the success of its 'Flower Power' pavilion, where it presented Swiss approaches to energy efficiency, renewable energies and global water management. The Swiss delegation also used the platform to stage around 60 events promoting exchange on specific education, research and innovation topics between key parties from both countries.

Conference on approaches to the Sustainable Development Goals in international cooperation

08.09.2017 — Media release EDA
The fourth International Conference on Research for Development (ICRD), which is taking place at the University of Bern, has been under way since 5 September 2017 and lasts until 8 September. The theme of the conference is ‘Evidence. Engagement. Policies’, and some 300 participants from around the world are involved in discussions on opportunities, challenges and solutions in the context of global sustainable development. The conference was organised by the Swiss Programme for Research on Global Issues for Development – which is run by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF) – and the Centre for Development and Environment of the University of Bern.

New FDFA strategy: Switzerland strengthens its commitment to gender equality and women's rights

08.09.2017 — Media release EDA
Switzerland's commitment to promoting gender equality and realising women's rights is set to become broader and more coherent. With its first Gender Equality and Women's Rights Strategy the FDFA will implement a comprehensive instrument based on concrete measures. Realising gender equality means creating better prospects for everyone to the benefit of society as a whole. This foreign policy strategy is thus a contribution by Switzerland to achieving peace and security, human rights, sustainable development and prosperity throughout the world.

Switzerland to participate in the first impact investment in the humanitarian sector

08.09.2017 — Media release EDA
The ICRC, with the support of Switzerland and other donor countries, is today launching an innovative model for financing humanitarian aid. The Programme for Humanitarian Impact Investments (PHII) is inspired by the concept of social impact bonds. This is a novel approach in the humanitarian field, with private investment helping to bring physical rehabilitation services to more people in need of such care. The PHII offers the ICRC a means to diversify and grow its funding base while limiting the financial risk incurred by public donors.

Switzerland's priorities at the 72nd UN General Assembly

06.09.2017 — Media release EDA
Building peace and security, especially by stepping up mediation capacity and conflict prevention, and strengthening the role of human rights are just two of the foreign policy priorities that Switzerland aims to implement during the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly. President of the Swiss Confederation Doris Leuthard, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter and FDFA State Secretary Pascale Baeriswyl will represent Switzerland in New York from 18 September 2017 during the high-level week that coincides with the opening of the UN General Assembly.

Switzerland condemns the nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

03.09.2017 — Media release EDA
Switzerland condemns the latest nuclear test that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea claims to have conducted on 3 September 2017. This test violates the United Nations Security Council resolutions, constitutes a threat to peace and security in the region and undermines the efforts made by the international community to strengthen the global non-proliferation of nuclear weapons regime, especially those being made to implement the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.

Sports diplomacy: 20 young Colombian athletes visit Switzerland

01.09.2017 — Media release EDA
Twenty young Colombians are currently in Switzerland as part of a visit organised jointly by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) and Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The aim of the visit is to allow these young people – who come from a region mired in conflict – to learn more about training techniques while discovering popular Swiss sports, and to use sport to give them hope for a better life away from crime and violence.

72nd Session of the UN General Assembly: Didier Burkhalter in New York to defend Switzerland's priorities

18.09.2017 — Media release EDA
Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), attended the opening session of the 72nd General Assembly of the United Nations on Monday in New York with the aim of building bridges and creating coalitions to defend key priorities of Switzerland's foreign policy.

Appointments: head of mission in Quito, assistant directors at the SDC and FOPH

15.09.2017 — Media release EDA
A number of staff changes have been announced for the Swiss representation in Quito, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Federal Office of Public Health of the Federal Department of Home Affairs. The changes will take place as part of the usual transfer rotation for 2017/18 and on the basis of appointments made by the Federal Council. In addition, the former deputy director general of the SDC, Thomas Greminger, has been appointed Secretary General of the OSCE. The appointment of head of mission in Quito becomes effective once the agrément of the receiving state has been given. The Federal Council has conferred the title of ambassador on the SDC and FOPH assistant directors.

Cyberangriff auf die Bundesverwaltung entdeckt und Massnahmen ergriffen

15.09.2017 — Media release EDA
Spezialisten des Bundes haben einen Angriff auf einzelne Server der Bundesverwaltung entdeckt und die notwendigen Massnahmen ergriffen. Der Bundesrat und die zuständigen politischen Gremien wurden über den Vorfall informiert. Bei der Bundesanwaltschaft wurden zwei Strafanzeigen gegen Unbekannt eingereicht.

Water, driver of peace: Global Panel on Water and Peace publishes recommendations

14.09.2017 — Media release EDA
"Since water supply is likely to become a major source of tension in the coming years, there is huge potential today to make water a key medium for cooperation and a driver of peace," the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, told the members of the Global Panel on Water and Peace. The panel chaired by former Slovenian President Danilo Türk was launched in November 2015. In Geneva on Thursday, its 15 member states presented the results of their work in the form of a set of recommendations to prevent and resolve water-related conflicts.

The first official visit to Bern by the Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations under the partnership agreement with Switzerland

13.09.2017 — Media release EDA
One year following the conclusion of the partnership agreement between Switzerland and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Secretary-General of the association, Lê Lương Minh, met Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter in Bern to discuss the results achieved to date, plus other significant regional and global economic and geostrategic issues. The meeting served to reaffirm the commitment made by Switzerland and ASEAN to strengthen mutual relations, especially in the areas of climate change, disaster risk prevention, advancement of human rights and sustainable development.

Positive review for Swiss 'Flower Power' at Expo 2017 in Astana

11.09.2017 — Media release EDA
This weekend, the doors closed on the Swiss pavilion at Expo 2017 in Astana, Kazakhstan. Presence Switzerland is pleased with the success of its 'Flower Power' pavilion, where it presented Swiss approaches to energy efficiency, renewable energies and global water management. The Swiss delegation also used the platform to stage around 60 events promoting exchange on specific education, research and innovation topics between key parties from both countries.

Conference on approaches to the Sustainable Development Goals in international cooperation

08.09.2017 — Media release EDA
The fourth International Conference on Research for Development (ICRD), which is taking place at the University of Bern, has been under way since 5 September 2017 and lasts until 8 September. The theme of the conference is ‘Evidence. Engagement. Policies’, and some 300 participants from around the world are involved in discussions on opportunities, challenges and solutions in the context of global sustainable development. The conference was organised by the Swiss Programme for Research on Global Issues for Development – which is run by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF) – and the Centre for Development and Environment of the University of Bern.

New FDFA strategy: Switzerland strengthens its commitment to gender equality and women's rights

08.09.2017 — Media release EDA
Switzerland's commitment to promoting gender equality and realising women's rights is set to become broader and more coherent. With its first Gender Equality and Women's Rights Strategy the FDFA will implement a comprehensive instrument based on concrete measures. Realising gender equality means creating better prospects for everyone to the benefit of society as a whole. This foreign policy strategy is thus a contribution by Switzerland to achieving peace and security, human rights, sustainable development and prosperity throughout the world.

Switzerland to participate in the first impact investment in the humanitarian sector

08.09.2017 — Media release EDA
The ICRC, with the support of Switzerland and other donor countries, is today launching an innovative model for financing humanitarian aid. The Programme for Humanitarian Impact Investments (PHII) is inspired by the concept of social impact bonds. This is a novel approach in the humanitarian field, with private investment helping to bring physical rehabilitation services to more people in need of such care. The PHII offers the ICRC a means to diversify and grow its funding base while limiting the financial risk incurred by public donors.

Switzerland's priorities at the 72nd UN General Assembly

06.09.2017 — Media release EDA
Building peace and security, especially by stepping up mediation capacity and conflict prevention, and strengthening the role of human rights are just two of the foreign policy priorities that Switzerland aims to implement during the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly. President of the Swiss Confederation Doris Leuthard, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter and FDFA State Secretary Pascale Baeriswyl will represent Switzerland in New York from 18 September 2017 during the high-level week that coincides with the opening of the UN General Assembly.

Switzerland condemns the nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

03.09.2017 — Media release EDA
Switzerland condemns the latest nuclear test that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea claims to have conducted on 3 September 2017. This test violates the United Nations Security Council resolutions, constitutes a threat to peace and security in the region and undermines the efforts made by the international community to strengthen the global non-proliferation of nuclear weapons regime, especially those being made to implement the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.

Sports diplomacy: 20 young Colombian athletes visit Switzerland

01.09.2017 — Media release EDA
Twenty young Colombians are currently in Switzerland as part of a visit organised jointly by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) and Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The aim of the visit is to allow these young people – who come from a region mired in conflict – to learn more about training techniques while discovering popular Swiss sports, and to use sport to give them hope for a better life away from crime and violence.

«Mit vereinten Kräften gegen das Leid in der Welt»

19.08.2017 — Article EDA

Beitrag von Bundesrat Didier Burkhalter zum Welttag der Humanitären Hilfe am 19. August 2017.

Swiss school students grapple with the memory of the Holocaust

14.07.2017 — Article EDA

In order to approach the difficult subject of the Holocaust, school teachers from Biel and Geneva asked their students to translate several notebook memoirs written by survivors. We met the students from Biel and Geneva and asked them what they took away from this experience.

Students from the French-speaking part of Switzerland translate Memoirs of Holocaust survivors

26.06.2017 — Article EDA

On the occasion of the first plenary meeting under Swiss chairmanship of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance on 26^th June in Geneva, students from Geneva and Bienne present the outcome of their work. They worked for many months to translate the Memoirs of the Holocaust survivors who live in Switzerland.

"Meetings between students and Holocaust survivors remain the best way of fighting Holocaust denial"

07.03.2017 — Article EDA

This year, Switzerland is assuming the chairmanship of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. Its new chair, FDFA secretary general Benno Bättig, discusses his role, Switzerland's priorities and the importance of raising youth awareness.

Nominations, retirements and new ambassadors

03.03.2017 — EDA
A personnel change for the position of head of the Swiss representation in Nepal has been planned. It will coincide with the usual transfers for early 2018 in line with the decision taken by the Federal Council. The nomination will take effect as soon as the authorities of the host country have given their approval. The Federal Council would like to extend its warmest thanks to Ambassador Jörg Frieden for his service as he enters retirement.

Three priorities for dialogue and joint action: Conflict prevention, the strengthening of joint capabilities and the effective implementation of the rights of every human being

27.02.2017 — EDA
Geneva, 27.02.2017 - Speech by Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter at the occasion of the opening at the 34th session of the Human Rights Council - Check against delivery

The Human Rights Council: “human rights are a joint response to a harsher, more uncertain world”

27.02.2017 — EDA
"In a world which is turning in on itself, we perceive less of a desire for joint action and more of a calling into question of the international framework for human rights," said Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter on Monday in Geneva at the opening of the 34th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC). "And yet, human rights are precisely the strong response we need to the questions facing us in this harsher, more uncertain world," he said. Switzerland proposed three priorities to guide joint dialogue and action in favour of human rights: conflict prevention, a strengthening of collective capacities and the genuine implementation of the rights of every human being.

FDFA Helpline has answered 250,000 enquiries from Swiss citizens since 2011

24.02.2017 — EDA
What is the current security situation in Tunisia? How can I apply for a new Swiss passport? My identity card was stolen in Barcelona - what do I have to do to be able to board a flight home? My son has been involved in a traffic accident in Thailand - what can be done to help him? The FDFA Helpline answers these and many other enquiries around the clock by telephone and email. The 250,000th enquiry was received in the night of 23 to 24 February 2017.

Famine in Africa: Switzerland pledges CHF 15 million to support emergency relief

24.02.2017 — EDA
Switzerland has pledged to take direct action to help populations facing starvation, especially in South Sudan. The decision follows a call issued by the United Nations Secretary-General on 22 February 2017. Swiss Humanitarian Aid, a department of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), is to release CHF 15 million from its fund for humanitarian emergencies for countries hit by famine in the beginning of this year.

State Secretary Pascale Baeriswyl to coordinate negotiations with EU starting 1 April 2017

22.02.2017 — EDA
Pascale Baeriswyl will take over the coordination of Switzerland’s negotiations with the European Union (EU) from Jacques de Watteville. During its session on Wednesday 22 February 2017, the Federal Council tasked the State Secretary of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) with pursuing the coordination of the discussions with the EU, together with the negotiators in charge of different dossiers, as of 1 April.

New head of swissnex India and consul general of Switzerland in Bangalore

21.02.2017 — EDA
Sébastien Hug has been appointed head of swissnex India and consul general of Switzerland in Bangalore. He will take up his post in November 2017.

“European security: a structured dialogue to advance common action, reduce uncertainty, and rebuild trust”

18.02.2017 — EDA
Speech by Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter at the Munich Security Conference – Check against delivery