All news (847)
Switzerland renews its commitment to fighting AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria
23.08.2017
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Press release
EDA
The Federal Council has approved a budget of CHF 57 million for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) for the period from 2017 to 2019. As host country and one of the founding members, Switzerland has been an important partner for the Global Fund since it was created in 2002. Over the past 15 years, the Global Fund has helped save millions of lives and made great strides in combating these diseases. As ongoing pandemics, however, they still pose a major public health problem in middle and low-income countries. In sub-Saharan Africa, millions of deaths could still be avoided each year.
Fires in Portugal: Switzerland sends helicopters to help tackle blazes
19.08.2017
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Press release
EDA
Wildfires are currently raging across several regions of Portugal. Responding to a call for assistance by Portuguese authorities, Switzerland is dispatching three helicopters and crews to help contain the fires.
Montenegro wildfires: Switzerland deploys a helicopter and sends a detachment
19.07.2017
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Press release
EDA
Fires have been raging in Montenegro for several days, devastating a number of areas. The scale of the situation has led the country's authorities to ask for international assistance. Today, Switzerland is dispatching a Swiss army helicopter from the KFOR base in Kosovo and a humanitarian team from Bern.
Switzerland an active participant at the 2017 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development
19.07.2017
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Press release
EDA
On Wednesday, 19 July 2017, the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) at UN headquarters in New York comes to an end. The forum is an annual event held for the purpose of reviewing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted in 2015. One year ago, 22 countries, including Switzerland, reported to the forum on their initial measures for implementation of the 2030 Agenda; this year, national implementation reports were presented by double that number of countries. In addition, thematic evaluations focusing on specific SDGs were conducted, with Switzerland playing an active role in the deliberations.
Ambassador Thomas Greminger appointed OSCE Secretary General: Switzerland now with a renewed stake in Europe's cooperative security
18.07.2017
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Press release
EDA
Switzerland welcomes the appointment of Ambassador Thomas Greminger as Secretary General of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). "This new OSCE appointment reflects our desire to make a tangible long-term contribution to the security of Europe through cooperation," said Federal Councillor and head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) Didier Burkhalter. Mr Burkhalter thanked the Austrian Chairmanship of the OSCE and all the participating states for arriving at the consensus in the Ministerial Council so essential to ensuring the efficient functioning of this institution built on dialogue and joint action.
Kooperationsstrategie Schweiz-Benin auf Präsidialebene lanciert
13.07.2017
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Press release
EDA
Bundespräsidentin Doris Leuthard hat am Donnerstag, 13. Juli 2017, in Benins Hauptstadt Cotonou Präsident Patrice Talon getroffen. Im Zentrum des Besuchs standen die Vertiefung der bilateralen Beziehungen sowie die gemeinsamen Ziele auf internationaler Ebene. Benin ist seit 1981 ein Schwerpunktland der Direktion für Entwicklung und Zusammenarbeit (DEZA). Anlässlich des Besuchs wurde auf Präsidialebene die Schweizer Kooperationsstrategie für Benin 2017-2020 lanciert.
Switzerland welcomes approval of UN resolution regarding the Statistical Commission’s work on 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
06.07.2017
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Press release
EDA
On 6 July 2017 the UN General Assembly approved the statistical resolution entitled “Work of the UN Statistical Commission pertaining to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”. Switzerland made a decisive contribution to the approval of this resolution and was actively involved in its elaboration.
Strengthening education systems in the poorest countries: Switzerland supports the efforts of the Global Partnership for Education
05.07.2017
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Press release
EDA
At its meeting on 5 July 2017, the Federal Council approved the continuation of Switzerland's financial contribution to the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) for the 2017 to 2020 period, in the amount of CHF 36 million. The GPE is a priority fund for the SDC's multilateral cooperation work. Through its support for the education systems of the world's poorest countries, it is helping to ensure that everyone can attend school, and thanks to its backing, an additional 64 million children were enrolled in school in 2014.
The Federal Council takes stock of human rights compliance in Switzerland
28.06.2017
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Press release
EDA
The Federal Council has adopted the third national report that Switzerland will submit to the UN Human Rights Council in November 2017 as part of the Universal Periodic Review. The report gives an overview of the human rights situation in Switzerland and of the most important measures it has taken in this respect in recent years.
Processing of personal data by the FDFA – Draft federal bill issued for consultation
28.06.2017
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Press release
EDA
At its meeting on Wednesday 28 June 2017, the Federal Council approved the draft bill for a federal act on the processing of personal data by the FDFA. This proposed legislation fulfils the requirements of the Federal Act of 19 June 1992 on Data Protection (FADP) while also taking account of more recent developments in internal organisation, technology and society. The consultation procedure has started with the various stakeholders and will end on 20 October 2017.
Draft bill on funding for national human rights institution issued for consultation
28.06.2017
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Press release
EDA
The Federal Council has prepared the ground for the establishment of a national human rights institution in Switzerland by opening the procedure for consultation on a draft bill on funding for the future institution. It will play an important role in implementing human rights in Switzerland.
“Los jóvenes: una bomba de relojería social, pero también un motor de innovación”
26.06.2017
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Artículo
DEZA
En Burkina Faso, se aplaude el empeño de Suiza en trabajar en estrecha colaboración con las empresas en el desarrollo de planes de aprendizaje de calidad. Lo que es evidente en Suiza, no lo es en todas partes. El número cada vez mayor de jóvenes en Burkina Faso exige que se tomen medidas con rapidez.