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A further CHF 5 million of winter aid for victims of the Syrian crisis

12.12.2013 — Press release EDA
Since the conflict in Syria began, the third winter has now set in. The cold, the rain and the snow are making conditions radically worse for people displaced within the country and those that have fled to neighbouring lands. This situation has prompted Switzerland to donate a further CHF 5 million to the victims of the conflict who are suffering hardship. The money is to be used to fund winter programmes run by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and by the UNHCR in Syria, and to provide Save the Children in Jordan with material assistance to withstand the winter.


Switzerland shows Colombian kids the potential of sport

05.12.2013 — Press release EDA
From 6 to 15 December, 26 Colombian girls and boys have been invited by Switzerland to get an introduction to well-loved sports in Switzerland, such as football, ice hockey and basketball. The aim of the visit is to show young people from conflict-ridden regions alternative prospects to a life of crime and violence. The visit is organised by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) in cooperation with Colombia's foreign ministry, the Federal Office of Sport (FOSPO) and sport clubs FC Basel 1893, SC Bern, Lions de Genève, Basket Club Latino Carouge and Floorball Köniz. Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter will meet the young people on 12 December.


«My message to young people is not to play with their lives»

29.11.2013 — Article DEZA

Bern, 1 December 2013 – To mark World Aids Day, the SDC has funded the recording of a song aimed at encouraging young people among others to use protection. Songwriter Sim-Kool, an artist from the Ivory Coast and goodwill ambassador for the Geneva Aids Group, explains why he decided to get involved.


Switzerland increases its commitment to development and gender equality

29.11.2013 — Press release EDA
The Federal Council is strengthening Switzerland's commitment to development and gender equality via the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), in order to make an even more decisive contribution to reducing poverty, eliminating discrimination and improving the situation of disadvantaged women and girls. To this end and based on its positive assessment of the effectiveness of these organisations, Switzerland is increasing its overall contribution to UNDP and UN Women. Its funding to UNDP is to go up from CHF 54 million to CHF 60 million per year for 2013 and 2014. The amount to UN Women will go up to CHF 12 million for 2013 and CHF 14 million for 2014. The Federal Council's decision takes due account of these organisations' important mandates and the express will of the Swiss Parliament, which increased the framework credit for international development cooperation for the 2013-2016 period.


National conference on gender-based violence

22.11.2013 — Press release EDA
Domestic violence, genital mutilation, forced marriage and human trafficking: Gender-based violence exists in various forms and occurs in all countries. In Switzerland, on average one person is killed in incidents involving domestic violence every two weeks, two out of three victims are women. At a conference today co-hosted by the Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA) and the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), some 180 specialists from all parts of Switzerland have met in Bern to share experiences and discuss the opportunities and challenges of international agreements for Switzerland on fighting gender-based violence.


Swiss national appointed commissioner-general of UNRWA

20.11.2013 — Press release EDA
Pierre Krähenbühl, current director of operations of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), has been appointed commissioner-general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) by the UN secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon.


«The 19 November 2013 elections are an important step in the ongoing peace process in Nepal»

18.11.2013 — Article DEZA

On 19 November 2013 elections will take place in Nepal for a new constituent assembly. Nepal has been a priority country for Swiss development cooperation for many years. Switzerland’s presence there dates back to the 1950s. In recent years Switzerland has focused its involvement especially on promoting the peace process and the rule of law. In an interview, Ambassador Urs Herren explains how and why Switzerland is committed to a sustainable political system in Nepal.


Switzerland allocates CHF 6 million to victims of Typhoon Haiyan

16.11.2013 — Press release EDA
The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) has decided to allocate CHF 6 million to support humanitarian activities in the Philippines. This decision reflects the Swiss Confederation’s wish to provide help for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan. The sum will be used to fund direct action by Swiss Humanitarian Aid for the benefit of those affected by the typhoon.


Swiss government names new Ambassadors

13.11.2013 — Press release EDA
The Swiss government (Federal Council) has approved the list of diplomatic staff transfers scheduled for 2014 submitted by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. The changes will be made in accordance with the normal rate of transfers, to be communicated at the time of the decision by the Federal Council. The appointments of Heads of Mission take effect as soon as the authorities in the host country communicate their approval. The Federal Council takes this opportunity to express its gratitude to the Ambassadors due to retire for the services rendered.


Switzerland and Austria join forces to promote global sustainable development in mountain regions

13.11.2013 — Press release EDA
Switzerland and Austria intend to step up their cooperation to share their experience of the sustainable development of mountain regions with as many people living in mountain regions around the world as possible. In addition, they want to raise political leaders' awareness of the specific needs of mountain regions. On 13 November 2013, Martin Dahinden, director-general of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and Martin Ledolter, managing director of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), signed an agreement to this effect.


Fishing and fertiliser trees: how agricultural research is making an impact in developing countries

12.11.2013 — Article DEZA

Three short films on projects supported by the SDC in Cambodia and Africa

Working with the European Initiative for Agricultural Research for Development (EIARD), the SDC has financed 20 case studies on the impact of agricultural research in developing countries. Three of these have been turned into short films: on awarding fishing concessions to local fishing communities in Cambodia; on successful spread of fertiliser tree cultivation; and on natural methods to combat lethal fungal toxins (aflatoxins) in Africa.


«Establishing common positions to convey in the international arena»

11.11.2013 — Article DEZA

Carmen Thoennissen looks back on Switzerland's three-year chairmanship of the European research platform EIARD.

Switzerland chaired the European Initiative for Agricultural Research for Development (EIARD) for three years from 2011-2013. This group, made up of the member states of the European Union, the European Commission, Switzerland and Norway, seeks to improve coordination at the European level to develop a common European stance which is then expressed in the international arena. Interview with EIARD chair Carmen Thoennissen from the SDC's Global Programme Food Security.

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