OrganizationPublished on 1 February 2026

Directorate of International Law

Upholding and promoting international law, have always been key foreign policy objectives that have helped Switzerland safeguard its interests and thus maintain its credibility and consistency. As the Confederation's centre of expertise on international law, the Directorate of International Law (DIL) advises the Federal Council and acts in a legal, policy-shaping, and notarial capacity on matters of international law relating to Switzerland's international relations.

Goals

Safeguarding the internationally guaranteed rights and interests of Switzerland and its citizens vis-à-vis other states and international organisations
Promoting respect for, as well as contributing to the further development and shaping of international law, in particular within the framework of the United Nations
Assessing whether international law is being correctly interpreted and applied by the Swiss authorities, both in Switzerland and abroad

Activities of the Directorate of International Law

The DIL acts as a legal adviser and assists the Federal Council, the FDFA's senior management, Swiss representations abroad and other organisational units of the Federal Administration on matters of international law. These primarily concern the interpretation and application of the rules of international treaty law and customary international law, particularly in the fields of human rights, international humanitarian law, as well questions regarding the procedural enforcement of Switzerland's claims under international law.
The DIL helps to enforce Switzerland's legal claims against other states and represents Switzerland in international courts (e.g. the International Court of Justice or International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea).
The DIL is the depositary of around 80 international treaties. These include the Lugano Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgements and the Geneva Conventions. The Swiss Maritime Navigation Office, based in Basel, keeps a register of seagoing Swiss yachts and coastal boats.
The DIL conducts negotiations and monitors the development and codification of international law, in particular the work of the International Law Commission and the UN General Assembly Sixth Committee. It helps to clarify whether existing rules can be applied to new contexts and negotiates host state agreements with organisations in International Geneva.

Submissions to the International Court of Justice in The Hague and other important analyses of international law

Obligations of States in respect of climate change - Written Statement by the Swiss Confederation
PDF323.39 kB18 March 2024
Obligations of States in Respect of Climate Change ‒ Written Comments of the Swiss Confederation
PDF471.07 kB7 August 2024
The Swiss Confederation's reply to climate-related questions put by ICJ judges
PDF503.15 kB20 December 2024

Analysis of the advisory opinion on Israel-Palestine issued by the International Court of Justice on 19 July 2024
PDF727.08 kB7 August 2025
Knesset report: Situation of UNRWA following the adoption of Israeli laws on UNRWA of 28 October 2024
(German)
PDF214.57 kB11 November 2024
Legal consequences of Israel's policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem ‒ oral statement by Switzerland, 23.02.2024
PDF703.00 kB23 February 2024
Legal consequences of Israel's policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem ‒ written statement by Switzerland, 17.07.2023
PDF1.49 MB17 July 2023
Middle East Task Force – selected questions in the field of international law
PDF241.35 kB22 December 2023
Statement by Switzerland on the investigation by the International Criminal Court into the situation in Palestine, 20.11.2023
PDF208.59 kB20 November 2023

Division I: Human Rights, Fight against Terrorism, IHL and Diplomatic Law

Division I of the Directorate of International Law houses three sections specialising in: human rights and counterterrorism, international humanitarian rule of law and international criminal justice, diplomatic and consular law.

- human rights, the ratification of human rights instruments and reporting to the relevant United Nations committees
- Upholding the Rule of Law, especially Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, in Counter-Terrorism
- legal status of diplomatic and consular representations and their staff
- legal status of international organisations and their staff in Switzerland, and of international conferences organised in Switzerland
- international criminal justice, in particular in connection with the International Criminal Court
- International humanitarian law, in particular initiatives to clarify and strengthen the regulatory framework so that it can meet the challenges of today's armed conflicts
- Secretariat of the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission (IHFFC)

Division II: General, Treaties and Asset Recovery

Division II consists of three sections specialising in the following areas: general international law, international treaty law and asset recovery.

- neutrality, international security and the peaceful settlement of disputes
- Application of international law in the digital sphere
- aspects of European Union (EU) law and of the bilateral agreements between Switzerland and the EU (institutional aspects and implementation)
- diplomatic and consular protection
- protection of Swiss investments abroad
- migration and the legal status of foreigners in Switzerland
- relationsship between international and national law
- procedures for the conclusion of international treaties
- competence of the Swiss federal authorities with regard to the approval of treaties
- information of the federal administration, the cantons, the courts and individuals about the agreements Switzerland has concluded with foreign partners
- functions related to the some 80 multilateral international treaties for which Switzerland is the depositary
- international legal assistance and cooperation in areas such as police and customs
- Questions regarding the freezing, confiscation and repatriation of assets belonging to politically exposed persons in Switzerland (enforcement of the FIAA)
- Law of Neighbouring States and cross-border cooperation
- relations between Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein

Swiss Maritime Navigation Office

- Legal supervisory and enforcement tasks in the maritime sector.
- Acting as the registration authority for seagoing yachts and coastal boats sailing on foreign rivers and in coastal waters.
- Managing the secretariat of the Swiss delegation to the Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine (CCNR).
Please consult the SMNO's website for further information.

Documents

Contact

Directorate of International Law DIL
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA
Kochergasse 10
3003 Bern

info.dv@eda.admin.ch

Directorate of International Law

Goals

Activities of the Directorate of International Law

Legal adviser

Lawyer

Notary

Shaper

Submissions to the International Court of Justice in The Hague and other important analyses of international law

What is an advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice?

23d session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, 02-07.12.2024

Enhancing the Legitimacy of UN Security Council Sanctions by Strengthening Fair and Clear Procedures – Briefing Paper

Climate

Obligations of States in respect of climate change - Written Statement by the Swiss Confederation

Obligations of States in Respect of Climate Change ‒ Written Comments of the Swiss Confederation

The Swiss Confederation's reply to climate-related questions put by ICJ judges

Middle East

Analysis of the advisory opinion on Israel-Palestine issued by the International Court of Justice on 19 July 2024

Knesset report: Situation of UNRWA following the adoption of Israeli laws on UNRWA of 28 October 2024

Legal consequences of Israel's policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem ‒ oral statement by Switzerland, 23.02.2024

Legal consequences of Israel's policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem ‒ written statement by Switzerland, 17.07.2023

Middle East Task Force – selected questions in the field of international law

Statement by Switzerland on the investigation by the International Criminal Court into the situation in Palestine, 20.11.2023

Organisational structure of the DIL: two divisions and the Swiss Maritime Navigation Office

Division I: Human Rights, Fight against Terrorism, IHL and Diplomatic Law

The Division also handles matters in the following areas of expertise, where appropriate together with other units of the FDFA and Federal Administration:

Division II: General, Treaties and Asset Recovery

The division deals in particular with the following areas, working whenever appropriate with other FDFA and Federal Administration offices:

Swiss Maritime Navigation Office

Links

Documents

Concept note, side event “The Rabat Plan of Action in the Digital Age” – Friday, 19 September 2025, 1–2 p.m., Palais des Nations, Geneva

Assessment under international law of the possible recognition of Palestine

Enhancing the Legitimacy of UN Security Council Sanctions by Strengthening Fair and Clear Procedures – Briefing Paper of the Geneva Graduate Institute and Switzerland

Decisions on a bilateral agreement between the Council of Europe and Ukraine on the establishment of the Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine and the creation of an enlarged partial agreement of the Council of Europe to ensure the financing and operation of such a Tribunal