The ‘Maison de la paix’ in Geneva houses Switzerland’s three peace and security policy centres.
The ‘Maison de la paix’ in Geneva houses the Swiss government’s three peace and security policy centres. © Keystone/Martial Trezzini

Switzerland established the three Geneva centres as internationally supported foundations between 1995 and 2000. This step strengthened the position of International Geneva as a hub of peace and security policy. The FDFA coordinates the Swiss government’s activities with the centres and promotes Switzerland’s peace and security policy interests through its strategic orientation. The FDFA’s Peace and Human Rights  Division chairs the interdepartmental steering committee. Swiss Parliament determines the framework credit for the Geneva centres on a four-yearly basis.
 

Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP)

The GCSP works within an international network and is a major platform for International Geneva. It offers executive education and advanced training courses for practitioners in the field of international peace and security policy. Target groups include diplomats, government officials, members of the armed forces and members of international organisations.

Fifty-two states, including the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, numerous EU member states, India, Egypt and Morocco are represented on the Foundation Council.

Geneva Centre for Security Policy

Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD)

The GICHD deals with all aspects of humanitarian mine clearance, from crisis intervention and reconstruction to peacebuilding and development cooperation. It publishes specialised knowledge, develops international standards, sets benchmarks for quality management and the security of personnel in the field. At the same time, the GICHD promotes implementation of the relevant provisions of international law. It supports local initiatives, including education and training programmes.

The staff of the GICHD provide operational support for mine clearance programmes. In this context, it works closely with the United Nations, NGOs, research centres and private companies. Mine clearance covers anti-personnel mines and all other types of mines, cluster munitions and other explosive remnants of war, improvised booby traps and unexploded ordnance.

Twenty-two states are represented on the Foundation Council.

Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining

Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF)

DCAF is the global leader in the areas of good governance and security sector reform (SSR). It works closely with the UN, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the EU, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and NATO. It runs more than 400 projects per year focused on the development of new strategies and operational work in the field. Priority areas of its activities are:

  • Police, law enforcement and border management reform
  • Fighting corruption
  • Civil society and parliamentary oversight and control of the security sector
  • Support for reform processes, including in North Africa and on the Arabian Peninsula, and
  • Regulation of private security and military companies.

Sixty-two states are represented on the Foundation Council; six Im Stiftungsrat sind 62 Staaten vertreten; 6 weitere haben Beobachterstatus.

Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF)

Last update 27.03.2023

Contact

Peace and Human Rights Division

Bundesgasse 32
3003 Bern

Phone

+41 58 462 30 50

Peace and Human Rights Division

Bundesgasse 32
3003 Bern

Phone

+41 58 462 30 50

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