Press releases

All news (829)

Working together for stability and peace in the Middle East

06.04.2021 — Press release EDA
Today in Muscat, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis met with the Omani Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of the Royal Office. Discussions focused on the joint efforts by Switzerland and Oman to promote peace and regional stability in the Middle East. Oman was the second stop on the head of the FDFA's tour of the Middle East.

Switzerland calls for full, equal and meaningful participation and rights of women

27.03.2021 — Press release EDA
Yesterday marked the final sitting of the 65th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York. Switzerland is pleased that agreed conclusions were adopted, and reiterates its commitment to further advancing gender equality and women's rights.

Diversified relations, constructively critical dialogue – Federal Council adopts China Strategy

19.03.2021 — Press release EDA
The Federal Council adopted a public strategy for China for the first time at its meeting on 19 March 2021. The Strategy sets out the objectives and measures for Swiss policy on China for the 2021–24 period. The Federal Council recognises the importance of China, and intends the Strategy to create greater coherence in Switzerland's activities with this important partner.

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis receives North Macedonian Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani

17.03.2021 — Press release EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis received Foreign Minister of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani on a courtesy visit to Bern on 17 March 2021. Mr Osmani was in Switzerland for a meeting with representatives of his country’s diaspora. The exchange focused on bilateral relations and Switzerland's significant involvement in North Macedonia.

Women's Human Rights app: Switzerland presents its digital tool for women's rights

08.03.2021 — Press release EDA
On this year's International Women's Day, the FDFA will present the new improved version of its Women's Human Rights app (W'sHR app). The new version of the app will be launched in New York in the presence of the UN secretary-general and the president of the UN General Assembly. The free app is an innovative digital database on women's rights and gender equality. It can be used to facilitate negotiations and contribute to the efficiency of multilateral processes, putting digitalisation at the service of human rights.

Alleviating suffering and promoting sustainable development: SDC allocates programme contributions for 2021–22

03.03.2021 — Press release EDA
The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has signed contracts with 27 partner organisations for programme contributions totalling around CHF 270 million for the 2021–22 period. The international programmes of Swiss NGOs contribute to the implementation of the objectives of Switzerland's new International Cooperation Strategy 2021–24.

Drought in Madagascar: Switzerland to provide 1 million Swiss francs

09.02.2021 — Press release EDA
Switzerland has announced the allocation one million Swiss francs to support humanitarian activities in Madagascar. It is responding to the country's authorities' appeal for international aid.

Libyan peace process: Switzerland welcomes appointment of new unified transitional authority

05.02.2021 — Press release EDA
Between 1 and 5 February Switzerland hosted the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum, culminating in the appointment of a unified executive authority tasked with preparing the national elections set for 24 December 2021. Switzerland hosted the forum as part of its commitment to supporting the UN-backed Libyan peace process and to fulfil the peace and security objectives set out in its Foreign Policy Strategy 2020–23.

IC: more impact in cooperation with the private sector

28.01.2021 — Press release EDA
The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) concretises its principles for cooperation with the private sector. Two new documents outline the main action areas for the next few years, which are aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Switzerland's International Cooperation Strategy (IC).

Stepping up education in emergencies through enhanced cooperation

25.01.2021 — Press release EDA
The Geneva Global Hub for Education in Emergencies was officially launched on 25 January 2021. During the 2019 Global Refugee Forum held in Geneva, Switzerland pledged to position International Geneva as a global centre for education in emergencies. Over 127 million children in humanitarian crises and conflict regions cannot go to school. More than 40% of the 80 million displaced people are children; the majority of these children have no access to education, resulting in a lack of prospects, increased violence against children and lost generations. The Hub, the development of which Switzerland has played a major role in, aims to change this.

Earthquake in Croatia: Switzerland responds to appeal for emergency shelters

22.01.2021 — Press release EDA
Thousands lost their homes as a result of the earthquake that hit Croatia at the end of last year. In response to a request from the Croatian authorities, Swiss Humanitarian Aid is supplying emergency shelters to the earthquake survivors. A total of CHF 400,000 has been allocated to the relief operation.

Switzerland supports Greece in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic

15.12.2020 — Press release EDA
The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) is working throughout the world to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. In Athens, on 15 December, it delivered two special patient transport vehicles and two ISO containers, to be used as mobile examination rooms, to the health service responsible for the Aegean islands. An initial consignment for Greece had previously been delivered on 4 December. Further supplies will be delivered on 18 December, with a final consignment at the end of January, bringing the project to a close.

Media (498)

Working together for stability and peace in the Middle East

Switzerland calls for full, equal and meaningful participation and rights of women

Diversified relations, constructively critical dialogue – Federal Council adopts China Strategy

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis receives North Macedonian Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani

Women's Human Rights app: Switzerland presents its digital tool for women's rights

Alleviating suffering and promoting sustainable development: SDC allocates programme contributions for 2021–22

Drought in Madagascar: Switzerland to provide 1 million Swiss francs

Libyan peace process: Switzerland welcomes appointment of new unified transitional authority

IC: more impact in cooperation with the private sector

Stepping up education in emergencies through enhanced cooperation

Earthquake in Croatia: Switzerland responds to appeal for emergency shelters

Switzerland supports Greece in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic

Other news (331)

Inclusion and education: All means all – even during the COVID-19 crisis

24.06.2020 — Article DEZA
The international community has committed to ensuring access to quality education for all by 2030. However, nearly 265 million children and young people are currently neither in school nor in training. UNESCO's 2020 Global Education Monitoring Report reminds countries to focus on those who are left behind and progress towards inclusion in education. Inclusion plays a very important part in Switzerland's development cooperation.

Discover the world with the FDFA and with peace mind

17.01.2020 — Article EDA
Just what is the perfect trip abroad? And where would it take you? Swiss travellers have different needs and expectations – some prefer to go on their own, others would rather choose an organised tour. It doesn't matter if you're a backpacker or a jet-setter: the FDFA provides a wide range of services for anyone who wants to travel abroad.

Honeyland Oscar nominee

14.01.2020 — Article DEZA
Honeyland has been nominated for an Oscar in the categories Best International Feature Film and Best Documentary. The film’s hero, Hatidze Muratova, champions environmental protection and the sustainable management of natural resources. She was discovered through the Nature Conservation Programme launched by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

First Global Refugee Forum in Geneva brings together actors committed to finding shared solutions

17.12.2019 — EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis has opened the Global Refugee Forum together with UN Secretary-General António Guterres and UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi. The purpose of the forum, which takes place on 17 and 18 December at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, is to find shared solutions to meet the needs of refugees and their host communities.

Humanitarian aid responds to digital and climate challenges – 33rd Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent comes to a close

12.12.2019 — EDA
The 33rd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent ended today in Geneva. The conference adopted six resolutions that will enable the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to improve its actions and adapt them to the needs of vulnerable groups, in a world where the demand for humanitarian aid has never been so high. The topic of digitalisation was on the agenda for discussion, for example in restoring family links broken by crisis situations. The conference was opened by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis on Monday 9 December.

Ignazio Cassis calls for international humanitarian law to be strengthened at the 33rd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent

09.12.2019 — EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis called for international humanitarian law to be strengthened in his opening speech at the 33rd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent taking place in Geneva from 9 to 12 December. Mr Cassis praised the vital work of the 17 million volunteers who make up the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

Swiss initiative: intentional starvation of civilians in civil wars is now a war crime

06.12.2019 — EDA
Following a Swiss initiative, the International Criminal Court (ICC) will from now on be able to prosecute the intentional starvation of civilians in civil wars as a war crime. The ICC Assembly of States Parties took a unanimous decision to this effect earlier today. It strengthens the protection of victims of war.

Swiss diplomat Heidi Grau named OSCE Special Representative for Ukraine

05.12.2019 — EDA
In a triumph for Swiss diplomacy, the 26th Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has opened with the Chairperson-in-Office, Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajčák, appointing Ambassador Heidi Grau as Special Representative for Ukraine. A renowned Swiss expert on Eastern Europe, Ambassador Grau thus assumes a key role in working towards an end to the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis welcomes the news of her appointment and considers this a testament to the reputation Swiss diplomacy enjoys within and beyond the OSCE.

Walter Kälin appointed to UN High-Level Panel on Internal Displacement

04.12.2019 — EDA
The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) welcomes UN Secretary-General António Guterres' decision to appoint Swiss law professor Walter Kälin as one of the experts of the UN's newly established High-Level Panel on Internal Displacement, which is tasked with finding solutions to internal displacement and alleviating its impact.

An exhibition to further understanding the importance of humanitarian principles

04.12.2019 — EDA
Humanitarian action is centred on the principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence. Together with the Musée de l'Elysée in Lausanne and the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is hosting an exhibition and forum for debate on humanitarian action and its founding principles. The art installation will run until March 2020 at the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum in Geneva.

30 years of the Convention on the Rights of the Child: Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis meets two school classes on the occasion

20.11.2019 — EDA
The right to education, protection, play and leisure – children have certain rights that, alongside their general welfare, states are obliged to guarantee. These obligations are enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was adopted 30 years ago today. To mark the occasion, Mr Cassis, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, opened the doors of the Federal Palace in Bern to two school classes from the canton of Ticino.

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis receives UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen to discuss a political solution to the Syrian conflict

21.10.2019 — EDA
Federal Councillor and head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Ignazio Cassis has met with the UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, in Bern to discuss the situation in Syria and possible ways of finding a political solution. They conferred about the most recent escalation of the conflict in north-eastern Syria and the upcoming first meeting of the Syrian Constitutional Committee in Geneva by the end of the month. Switzerland provides humanitarian support for the people of Syria and neighbouring countries.