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Switzerland welcomes the opening of a UN Women liaison office in Geneva

UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka with a group of young girls.

06.10.2016 — Press release EDA
Switzerland considers the opening of a UN Women liaison office in Geneva to be a very positive development. With this new office, UN Women plans to exert greater influence on intergovernmental decision-making processes and enhance its strategic cooperation with key actors in International Geneva.


Conference on Afghanistan: Switzerland renewed its commitment

05.10.2016 — Press release EDA
At the occasion of the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan, which took place on 4 and 5 October 2016, Switzerland renewed its commitment to a long-term partnership with Afghanistan. As announced by the head of the Swiss delegation, ambassador Thomas Greminger, in his speech, Switzerland will stay engaged in Afghanistan and pursue a commitment of approximately CHF 26 Mio per year until 2020. The Swiss programme focuses on two interconnected domains: inclusive governance and human rights, and sustainable socio-economic development.


Pascale Baeriswyl appointed FDFA state secretary

Pascale Baeriswyl and Didier Burkhalter

30.09.2016 — Press release EDA
The Federal Council appointed Ms Pascale Baeriswyl state secretary and head of the Directorate of Political Affairs of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs on Friday. Ms Baeriswyl (48, places of origin Basel and Fribourg) is currently the assistant director of the FDFA's Directorate of International Law (DIL). She will take up her post on 1 December of this year and will succeed Mr Yves Rossier who, after more than four years in this function, has today been appointed ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the Russian Federation. The Federal Council has also appointed Ms Krystyna Marty Lang, until recently head of mission in Pristina, as deputy state secretary and deputy head of the Directorate of Political Affairs, with the title of ambassador.


Education as a vector of change

Cover of the Global Education Monitoring Report 2016.

26.09.2016 — Article DEZA

UNESCO's latest Global Education Monitoring Report reiterates the key role played by universal access to quality education in the pursuit of sustainable development. It recommends that school curricula be designed to teach students about contemporary challenges. Another priority lies in making lifelong learning possible. The SDC shares these principles, which guide its action.


Signing of peace agreement in Colombia – Switzerland represented by the State Secretary of the FDFA

22.09.2016 — Press release EDA
Yves Rossier, the State Secretary of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), will represent Switzerland at the signing of the peace agreement between the Colombian government and the FARC on Monday 26 September 2016. This historic deal should bring an end to a conflict lasting several decades and claiming many victims. It also seeks to bring about lasting peace in this Latin American country.



UN General Assembly: Switzerland committed to preventing violent extremism and terrorism

20.09.2016 — Press release EDA
Stepping up international efforts to prevent violent extremism and terrorism was at the heart of Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter's concerns as he participated on Tuesday in the opening of the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Mr Burkhalter, who is head of the Federal Department for Foreign Affairs, took part in meetings focusing on how to involve women and the private sector in projects in order to give marginalised groups more opportunities – with the aim of preventing people deprived of hope from falling into violence and extremism. One of the meetings was also sponsored by Switzerland.


UN issues declaration on refugees and migration

19.09.2016 — Press release EDA
Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga represented Switzerland on Monday at the UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants in New York. The states want to meet the challenges posed by large movements of refugees and migrants more effectively and issued a political declaration on this issue. Federal Councillor Sommaruga stressed that Switzerland wants to play an active role in implementing the goals agreed at the summit in New York.


UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants: the international community's responsibility – Switzerland's commitment

16.09.2016 — Article DEZA

The first United Nations Summit for Refugees and Migrants is taking place on 19 September 2016 in New York and will see the international community adopt joint measures in response to the large movements of refugees and migrants. Switzerland will be focusing in particular on improving protection on the ground, preventing forced displacement and finding sustainable solutions for directly affected populations.



Switzerland, India and Cuba developing new cement to reduce CO2

An Indian worker builds a wall with LC3 blocks.

12.09.2016 — Article DEZA

Switzerland, India and Cuba are developing and testing a type of cement that causes less CO2 emissions in production than conventional cement. The SDC is supporting this trilateral cooperation. The project is attracting attention in connection with the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation on 12 September 2016.


SDC funds new low-CO2 cement production

Karen Scrivener stands with Cuban research partners and Latin American cement producers in front of cement blocks at a shoreside in Cuba.

12.09.2016 — Article DEZA

Karen Scrivener, a professor at the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, is the inventor of LC3, short for limestone calcined clay cement. The LC3 production process emits smaller volumes of carbon dioxide compared to regular cement. The SDC supports the LC3 project, which involves Switzerland, Cuba and India. Interview with Karen Scrivener.

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