War in Ukraine erodes European support for humanitarian disarmament
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The withdrawal of Lithuania from the convention banning cluster munitions has raised concerns among NGOs that this decision will encourage other states, worried about their own security, to disassociate themselves from treaties designed to protect civilians in wartime.
Reactions to ‘no’ vote on Swiss motorway expansion project
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On Sunday, a majority of Swiss voters (52.7%) rejected a CHF5 billion government plan to extend key stretches of the motorway network.
What does the Israeli parliament’s ban on UNRWA mean?
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The Israeli Parliament’s decision will prevent the UN agency for Palestinian refugees from delivering aid in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. It has been met with strong reactions and is raising many questions. Here are some answers.
US election: is America drifting away from International Geneva?
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As president, Donald Trump gave Geneva’s international organisations a rough time. Kamala Harris will likely not deviate too much from Joe Biden's policy.
Explainer: Why NATO is opening an office in Geneva
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NATO will open a liaison office in Geneva later this year, raising concerns about Swiss neutrality and the city’s reputation as the “capital of peace”. SWI swissinfo.ch explains what is at stake.
Sudan: everything you need to know about the Geneva negotiations
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US-led negotiations on Sudan are underway in Switzerland. Their goal is a ceasefire, but with only one of the warring sides attending, this will prove difficult.
Is the Human Rights Council becoming a mini-Security Council?
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Faced with a stalled Security Council, UN members are turning to the Geneva-based Human Rights Council to push through motions set to fail in New York.
The Swiss who have left their mark on the history of humanitarian law
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To mark the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions, (re)discover six Swiss personalities who championed international humanitarian law from 1864 to 2024.
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Western powers risk their credibility when they defend human rights unevenly, argues Swiss researcher Christelle Genoud. As they try to rally Global South countries to counter China’s growing influence at the UN, their double standards are a burden.
Swiss conviction of Ousman Sonko sends ‘resounding message’ against impunity
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Former Gambian politician Ousman Sonko was sentenced in Switzerland on May 15 under the universal jurisdiction for crimes against humanity.
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As multilateral diplomacy and Swiss neutrality come under pressure, Geneva’s reputation as a place of peace is also at risk.
Can UNRWA report restore confidence in the organisation?
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Whether an independent report into the neutrality of UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, will reassure the US and Israel remains to be seen.
Sudan: senior Red Cross official reflects on devastating year-long war
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Patrick Youssef, regional director for Africa at the ICRC, talks about the humanitarian needs in Sudan, one of the world’s worst crises.
UN General Assembly president: ‘Over 75 years we’ve not had a Third World War’
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In Geneva to address the United Nations Human Rights Council, the president of the General Assembly, Dennis Francis, weighs in on the wars in Gaza and in Ukraine and shares what keeps him optimistic.
Donor fatigue looms over humanitarian aid in Ukraine after two years of war
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Two years after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the humanitarian situation remains critical. The UN fears that its aid to the country will be underfunded.
How to break the cycle of underfunding for forgotten humanitarian crises
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As humanitarian needs spiral, some of the worst forgotten crises are seriously underfunded. The UN has difficult choices to make.
China’s UN rights review will test alignment of Global South
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China’s human rights record is being examined by the UN in Geneva. NGOs are watching closely for any mention of a damning 2022 report on Xinjiang.
Should Switzerland take measures to support its struggling industries?
Industrial policies are back in fashion, not only in the United States but also in the EU. Should Switzerland, where various industries are struggling, draw inspiration from such policies?
