Many Swiss nationals travelling abroad ask the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA for recommendations and advice on their journey. A list of questions and answers.

On Monday evening, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis was a guest on the programme "60 Minuti" on RSI. The head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) spoke about the importance of federalism in Switzerland and the measures adopted by the Federal Council to combat the COVID 19 pandemic. Among other things, personal responsibility and mutual solidarity are decisive factors in the fight against the pandemic.

Poor sanitary conditions pose a health risk. This is a major problem, particularly because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But even today, one third of the world's population has no adequate access to clean water. To help people living poverty protect themselves during the current pandemic, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is supporting hygiene awareness campaigns and the creation of more handwashing stations.

Discussions on the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on low-income countries have gained considerable momentum. Remittances from migrants and wider diaspora communities to their countries of origin are a key issue in this respect. Switzerland is therefore launching an appeal to keep remittance channels open and give the poorest communities continued access to these vital sources of income.

Hurricanes Eta and Iota have caused widespread damage as well as numerous deaths and injuries across Central America. Switzerland immediately dispatched a team of disaster management experts to Guatemala and released CHF 2 million to address the urgent needs of communities in Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala. Flisch Jörimann is coordinating the relief efforts from the Cooperation Office in Managua.

The world watched this September as devastating floods hit Sudan. Back in Switzerland, Yvonne Josy Müller tells us of her experiences working as a water and environmental sanitation expert for the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit. We also talk on durable solutions – a key concept accompanying Switzerland's activities in the region – with Amir Hamid, Humanitarian Aid Adviser in Khartoum.

Corinne Cicéron Bühler, Ambassador and Director of the Directorate of International Law of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), will chair a panel discussion with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on the subject of international humanitarian law. In a prior interview, she explains why Switzerland has been committed to strengthening international humanitarian law for many years.

'International Humanitarian Law: What does Switzerland do?' On 18 November 2020, the FDFA, the DDPS, the Red Cross and the Swiss parliament will debate this question at a virtual round table discussion open to the public. It will offer an opportunity to recall Switzerland's long humanitarian tradition, to present good practices developed by the country, and to identify the many challenges left to tackle.

Switzerland and China are celebrating 70 years of diplomatic relations. What began with a telegram on 17 January 1950 has grown into a close and multifaceted relationship. Switzerland continues to take a constructive shaping role in this partnership, addressing differences on an equal footing with China. What follows are seven stories on seven decades of lively relations covering partnership, diplomacy, economic affairs, science, culture, tourism and sport.

Switzerland has decided to offer financial support to help renovate the barracks of the Pontifical Swiss Guard. The contribution comes in the light of the 100th anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and the Vatican, and offers the perfect opportunity to learn more about the renovation project as well as about life in this multilingual corps that is also the world's smallest army.

Following a break of almost 50 years, Switzerland and the Vatican resumed diplomatic relations in 1920. In his book "The Pope and the Federal Council", historian Lorenzo Planzi writes that one of the reasons for the rapprochement was the joint commitment during the First World War providing aid to captured German and French soldiers suffering from illnesses.

2020 marks 50 years of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Albania. For Adrian Maître, the Swiss ambassador to Tirana, relations before and after the fall of communism form two distinct periods. Fifty years on, Switzerland and Albania enjoy excellent relations which are continuing to grow stronger.

What is the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) exactly? And what does it have to do with a washing machine spin cycle? Find out here.

Ambassador Christian Meuwly, permanent representative of Switzerland to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, talks about the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which is turning 70. He discusses its influence, importance and future, and the crucial role of intergovernmental cooperation, especially in times of crisis.

Switzerland's candidacy for the UN Security Council is entering its final phase. "We want to contribute to security and peace in the world”: Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis explains the reason behind Switzerland's candidacy in an interview with the "Tages-Anzeiger". Particularly the non-permanent members of the Security Council can play an important role as "a lubricant between world powers".

Switzerland is a candidate for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. Elections for the 2023–24 period will be held in June 2022. The candidacy entered its final phase with a virtual event in New York attended by the president of the Swiss Confederation, Simonetta Sommaruga, and Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis.

The FDFA advises caution and preparation when travelling during the summer holidays. Information on the regulations of the country of destination as well as on the rules for returning to Switzerland are prerequisites.

Summer is here! Switzerland offers many opportunities to spend the summer holidays, especially with children. However, if you still want to travel abroad with children this summer, it is important to find out about the entry requirements for the destination country before you leave. In the case of minor children travelling with only one parent or without a legal guardian, it is strongly recommended to draw up a declaration of consent.

By supporting a new training programme for sanitary engineers, Swiss international cooperation is helping Ukraine switch from theory-based learning to a practice-based system. This gives young people job prospects in their own country. The public-private project underlines the importance of a holistic approach in international cooperation.

This World AIDS Day, we visit Geneva and Harare to hear the stories of young champions of change. Leave no one behind: that is the message at the heart of the 2030 Agenda, also in the fight against transmissible diseases, as well as the driving force behind the work carried out by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in collaboration with its bilateral and multilateral partners. A strong network of young people is crucial in order to reach beyond prevention.

The level of poverty in the world today has an impact on future society. In 2020, one in ten people lives in extreme poverty, according to the UN. United for sustainable development, the world's nations have committed to eradicating poverty by 2030. Switzerland is playing a very active role to achieve this goal. A multi-actor approach and commitment on the ground are vital success factors. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is a key partner. Ten facts and fugures.

The Geneva Health Forum 2020 took place online and focused on innovative global health solutions. It also highlighted the key role played by digitalisation, a topic of fundamental significance for Switzerland. The coronavirus pandemic has underlined the importance of taking a multilateral approach to the public health crisis; in this context, Geneva has consolidated its status as a hub of international and multidisciplinary collaboration.

Switzerland has signed a restitution agreement with Peru and Luxembourg. It intends to return to the Peruvian authorities illicit assets amounting to 16.3 million dollars that were deposited in Switzerland by Vladimiro Montesinos, the former head of Peru's intelligence service. Corinne Cicéron Bühler, head of the Directorate of International Law (DIL), explains the significance of this agreement.

Switzerland has signed a trilateral restitution agreement with Peru and Luxembourg. Having played a pioneering role in the restitution of illicit assets held by foreign politically exposed persons, the country has continued to refine its approach over the course of three decades. The restitution of USD 16.3 million from Switzerland will serve to fund projects in Peru aimed at strengthening the rule of law and the fight against corruption.

The 37th Ministerial Conference of la Francophonie was held in virtual form, with Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis among the attendees. Switzerland has been a member of la Francophonie since 1996. The organisation has four missions: to promote the French language and cultural and linguistic diversity, to promote peace, democracy and human rights, to support education and research, and to expand cooperation in the interests of sustainable development.

Mit der neuen Strategie Digitalaussenpolitik unterstreicht der Bundesrat die Bedeutung neuer Technologien für die Aussenpolitik der Schweiz. Das internationale Genf bietet Staaten, Unternehmen, Organisationen, der Wissenschaft sowie Bürgerinnen und Bürgern eine Plattform für eine breite Diskussion. Ein Beispiel dafür ist der vom EDA lancierte Geneva Dialogue on Responsible Behaviour in Cyberspace, sagt Jon Fanzun, Sondergesandter für Cyber-Aussen und –Sicherheitspolitik.

With the aim of clarifying the language used when talking about Switzerland's European policy, the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) has produced a first series of 60-second videos explaining in simple terms one of the main elements of Swiss foreign policy.

In a live chat hosted by the newspaper 20 Minuten, Federal Councillor Cassis answered readers' questions on the Limitation Initiative. Adoption of the initiative to limit immigration would damage Switzerland as a business location, he said.

Some 25 years on from the Srebrenica massacre, the question arises of what we have learnt from the past and how such atrocities can be prevented in the future. Examining our history is also important for Swiss domestic and foreign policy going forward. This article by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis was published in the NZZ on Saturday, 11 July 2020.

Claude Altermatt, the Swiss Ambassador in Minsk, talks about bilateral relations between Switzerland and Belarus and the importance of the opening of the Embassy.

The International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers (the "Code of Conduct") was launched 10 years ago. It obliges private security service providers to respect human rights and international humanitarian law and to prevent their violation. Switzerland was influential in creating the code of conduct and is head of its supervisory board. As a neutral stakeholder it encourages dialogue between private security companies, states and NGOs, as well as a range of Observers including multinational companies.

In the magazine POLITORBIS, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis highlights the importance of anticipating future developments for the prevention of atrocities. This text is the original version of the abridged editorial published in the magazine. The current, and last, issue of POLITORBIS is dedicated to the prevention of the most heinous crimes such as genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and ethnic cleansing.

The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) was initiated and drafted by the Council of Europe, and signed on 4 November 1950. The 70th anniversary of this common endeavour is highly significant for Switzerland, as the Convention's key elements are also among the priorities of Swiss foreign policy. Historic and enduringly relevant, the ECHR is now making inroads in the digital world.

There are currently more than 150 Swiss experts working to promote peace around the globe. This includes 15 police officers taking part in international missions in countries facing precarious security situations or undergoing reconstruction. At present, they are on mission in Mali, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Somalia.

Every year, some 300 FDFA staff are redeployed in accordance with the department's job rotation principle. FDFA staff are transferred in accordance with established processes in order to ensure that the right people are deployed to the external network, thus enabling the department to safeguard Switzerland's interests.

The newly restructured State Secretariat of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA started work at the beginning of 2021. It comprises six geographic and five thematic divisions. Now located under one roof, their close proximity will result in greater coherence in Swiss foreign policy as a whole. The State Secretariat is headed by State Secretary Livia Leu. She will be supported by two Deputy State Secretaries, Patric Franzen and Johannes Matyassy, who also have line management responsibilities.

In einem Interview mit der Weltwoche blickt Bundesrat Ignazio Cassis auf das zu Ende gehende Jahr zurück. Angesichts der Coronakrise, die noch lange nicht überwunden ist, hebt Ignazio Cassis die Entscheide des Bundesrates, die Notwendigkeit einer solidarischen Welt und die Stärken des Schweizer Föderalismus hervor. Er spricht auch über die nächsten Schritte im Europa-Dossier und die Bedeutung eines guten Kompasses für die Ausrichtung der Schweizer Aussenpolitik.

To support its foreign policy objectives, Switzerland's communication must keep pace with the times. The Strategy for Communication Abroad 2021–24 meets this need by contributing to a positive and nuanced view of Switzerland abroad and promoting the country's interests. The strategy will achieve this with projects like the Pop-up House of Switzerland, which is inspired by the temporary stores favoured by millennials. It will stop off in various countries as well as maintaining an online presence.