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Multilateraler Dialog Genf, Genfer Depesche WHA U.S. Mission / Eric Bridiers / flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0
Geneva Telegram

PABS Annex to the WHO Pandemic Agreement: IGWG7 brings competing System Models on the Table

Two concrete proposals are on the table for structuring access to pathogen materials and sequence information and the associated sharing of benefits.

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Afghans face harsh return after expulsion from Pakistan, Afghanistan. Torkham crossing point (border with Pakistan) UN Women/Sayed Habib Bidell
Geneva Telegram

75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention: Insights from the UNHCR Global Trends report

On 28 July 2026, the Geneva Refugee Convention turned 75. Its enduring relevance is particularly evident in light of the record numbers of people forcibly displaced worldwide.

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Flagge der WHO vor ihrem Sitz in Genf, Schweiz U.S. Mission / Eric Bridiers / flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0
Geneva Telegram

The global fight against HIV/AIDS amid financial pressures and an uncertain future for UNAIDS

Although the global fight against HIV/AIDS has made remarkable epidemiological and medical progress, its political, financial, and institutional foundations are coming under increas...

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Cover Tamara Wood Study, EN
Einzeltitel

Advancing Protection under Article I(2) of the 1969 OAU Refugee Convention

Article I(2) of the 1969 OAU Refugee Convention is the ‘most influential conceptual standard of refugee status apart from the [1951] Convention definition itself’.

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Multilateraler Dialog Genf, Länderberichte EdvanKun
Geneva Telegram

Analysis of the Swiss vote on the 10 Million Initiative on 14 June 2026

On Sunday, 14 June 2026, Swiss voters and cantons delivered a clear verdict on the Swiss People's Party's (SVP) initiative to cap Switzerland's resident population at 10 million.

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Multilateraler Dialog Genf, Länderberichte EdvanKun
Geneva Telegram

Vote on the 10-million initiative on 14 June 2026

On 14 June, Switzerland will vote on the Swiss People’s Party’s (SVP) 10-million initiative. The SVP aims to strictly limit the population through this measure.

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Freedom, justice and solidarity are the basic principles underlying the work of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS). The KAS is a political foundation, closely associated with the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU).
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Neue Folge des Podcasts Multipod

Multipod: WHO macht Fortschritte bei internationalen Gesundheitsvorschriften

Die Covid-Pandemie hat auch auf internationaler Ebene Folgen. Erfahren Sie, wie die Weltgesundheitsorganisation (WHO) und ihre Mitgliedstaaten sich besser für die Zukunft wappnen.

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Neue Folge des Podcasts Multipod

Multipod: Wie können Frauenrechte im Gesundheitssektor gestärkt werden?

Erfahren Sie mehr über die Herausforderungen von Frauen, Ihr Recht auf Gesundheit einzufordern.

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Statement

Norbert Lammert on the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

"Human rights are not laws of nature. [...], they must be protected & defended by people who take the claim to the inviolability of human dignity seriously".

Multipod: Review of Germany in the UPR

Multipod: Human rights protection starts at home. Germany in the UPR

On 9th November 2023, the United Nation's Human Rights Council discussed the human rights situation in Germany

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Genfreise

Geneva Security Debate zum Krieg in der Ukraine

Prof. Dr. Lammert, Botschafter Dr. Heusgen und Botschafter Greminger zu den Auswirkungen des Krieges in der Ukraine auf den Multilateralismus und die Weltordnung

Delegationsreise

Dialogprogramm des Arbeitskreises Globale Gesundheit der Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in Genf

Erfahren Sie mehr über die Delegationsreise zu aktuellen Herausforderungen im Bereich Globale Gesundheit vom 7-9. Juni

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Map of the Month

The KAS Map of the Month

Publications

Support for "Global IHL Initiative" to to uphold humanity in war

Map of the Month 08/2026

The Geneva Conventions, signed on 12 August 1949, are considered to have been universally ratified, with 196 signatory states. While the obligations remain, the commitment to upholding them is weakening, with massive consequences for millions of people trapped in conflict worldwide. Currently, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) counts more than 130 active armed conflicts – more than twice as many as 15 years ago. It has observed an increase in violations of international humanitarian law, such as attacks on healthcare facilities. Therefore, the ICRC, together with Brazil, France, China, Jordan, Kazakhstan and South Africa, launched in 2024 a global initiative to galvanise political commitment to International Humanitarian Law and to ensure that the Conventions can continue to fulfil their protective function. The initiative addresses key challenges, including in the areas of new technologies, the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, especially hospitals. To date, over 150 states have taken part in global and regional consultations. A progress report containing initial recommendations was also published at the end of 2025. By mid-May 2026, 116 states had joined the initiative, including the six founding members and the 27 co-chairs of the thematic working groups. The initiative will culminate in a high-level conference on Humanity in War with heads of state and government, scheduled for 7 December in Amman (Jordan).

Sarah Ultes
August 12, 2026
Map of the Month

Vote of the UN General Assembly to reappoint Volker Türk as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Map of the Month 07/2026

Exercising his right to nominate and extend tenures, UN Secretary-General António Guterres—who is set to step down from office at the end of December—asked the UN General Assembly on July 17, 2026, „to renew the appointment of Mr. Türk as High Commissioner (for Human Rights)  for a period of four years, beginning on 12 October 2026 and expiring on 11 October 2030“ on 17 July (A/80/797). On 24 July 2026, the UN General Assembly decided with a majority of 144 votes in favour, 10 against, 13 abstentions and 26 states absent to extend the mandate of the Volker Türk (Austria) as head of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). It is the first time for a High Commissioner since the creation of the post in 1993 to serve two full terms. Former Commissioners were either granted none or only shorter extensions of one (Mary Robinson) or two years (Navi Pillay). Opposition to the extension came from: Argentina, Burkina Faso, North Korea, Israel, Mali, Nicaragua, Niger, Russian Federation, Trinidad and Tobago and the USA. The USA had originally asked to postpone the  vote for another week. Otherwise, it threatened „to (…) immediately reassess (its) engagement, participation, and funding.“ The US who has already left the UN Human Rights Council for the second time also criticised Türk for „lecturing free, sovereign democracies like the United States.“  The proposal was rejected by a simple majority of 63 states against, 27 in favour and 47 abstaining. The Russian Federation then proposed to extend the mandate only until the end of 2026 arguing that the new Secretary General should take the decision on this important post. This proposal was rejected by a majority of 71 states voting against, 19 in favour and 52 abstaining.

Sarah Ultes
July 31, 2026
Map of the Month

The 1951 Refugee Convention at 75: Insights from the UNHCR's Global Trends report

Map of the Month 07/2026

On 28 July 1951, the ‘Convention relating to the Status of Refugees’ was signed in Geneva. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Refugee Convention. Originally drafted in the wake of the Second World War and in response to the mass displacement of around 55 million people, it remains the most important instrument of international law for the protection of refugees until today. In 1967, the "Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees" removed the geographical and temporal restrictions of the Convention, thereby making it applicable worldwide. To date, 149 states have acceded to the Convention, the 1967 Protocol, or both. Its enduring relevance is particularly evident in light of the record numbers of displaced people worldwide. The Maps of the Month offer a brief insight into current trends and figures from the latest report by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) who serves as the guardian of the Convention and its Protocol. How have individual asylum applications developed worldwide during the past year? What were the numbers of refugees in host countries in relation to the national population in 2025? Which states supported the UNHCR’s resettlement programme, and which provided financial support to the UN Refugee Agency?

Sarah Ultes
July 28, 2026
Map of the Month

Vote on the new Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS

Map of the Month 07/2026

On 23 June 2026, the United Nations High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS adopted a new Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS by 149 votes in favour, 8 against and 14 abstentions. The declaration reaffirms the goal of eliminating AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. It further sets ambitious targets for testing, treatment and prevention, for closing funding gaps, and for protecting human rights and gender equality. Moreover, it encourages local production of medicines and technology transfer.

Linde Buder
July 16, 2026
Map of the Month

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Geneva Telegram

PABS Annex to the WHO Pandemic Agreement: IGWG7 brings competing System Models on the Table

Two concrete proposals are on the table for structuring access to pathogen materials and sequence information and the associated sharing of benefits.

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