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Flags of the WHO and UN waving in the wind outside Copenhagen headquarters. Depositphotos, Imago
When All Concerns Are Trumped

The Impact of US Policy on Global Health

US withdrawal jeopardises global health programmes and research – WHO faces billion-dollar shortfall and restructuring.

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Screenshot 2025-11-04 at 15.32
Publication

80th anniversary of the United Nations

A brief overview of the work of some of the Geneva-based UN organisations and their achievements at the 80th anniversary of the United Nations on 22 September 2025

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Menschen auf der Flucht aus dem Sudan 2024 UNHCR, 2024, Nicolò Filippo Rosso
Geneva Telegram

Key insights from UNHCR’s new global trends report 2025

The new UNHCR report provides insights into global trends in 2024. With 123.3 mio. people, there were 6% more forcibly displaced than in 2023. Sudan is particularly hard-hit.

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Multilateraler Dialog Genf, Genfer Depesche WHA U.S. Mission / Eric Bridiers / flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0
Global Health at the Crossroads of Reform and Rivalry

The 78th World Health Assembly of the WHO 2025

Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions, the 78th World Health Assembly was able to adopt key health policy projects with potential for future generations.

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Multilateraler Dialog Genf, Genfer Depesche WHA U.S. Mission / Eric Bridiers / flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0
Opening a Window to Global Cooperation

The Pandemic Agreement

With the successful conclusion of negotiations on the WHO Pandemic Agreement, the international community has taken a decisive step toward a stronger global health architecture.

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

The 13th meeting of the INB - A crucial moment for the pandemic response

With only five official negotiation days left before the World Health Assembly (WHA) in May—where the agreement is set to be adopted—delegations are under immense time pressure.

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Welcome

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

New composition of UN Human Rights Council as of 2025 and key votes at the 57th session of the Council

Map of the Month 10/2024

On 9 October, the UN General Assembly voted on the new composition of the UN Human Rights Council for the year 2025. Saudi Arabia once again failed to make it onto the Council in the Asia-Pacific Group, obtaining only 117 votes. The country's last failed attempt was in 2021 when it obtained only 90 votes. In the group of Western European and other states, the USA decided not to run for a second term. Trump had already decided to withdraw from the Council during his first term in June 2018, a decision that was reversed under Biden. Germany will be represented on the Council once again in 2025. Key votes during the 57th UN Human Rights Council included an extension of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation as well as for the Fact Finding Mission on Sudan. A resolution tabled by Georgia on technical assistance for its own country also had to be voted on. With regard to the right to development, another resolution was adopted, which focussed in particular on the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for its promotion of the right at the regional level. The resolution was sharply criticised by the USA and the EU, among others. The USA also criticised a text entitled ‘From rhetoric to reality: a global call for concrete action against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance’, which, among other things, described the slave trade as a ‘crime against humanity’ for which 'reparations proportionate to the harms committed' were expected. Criticism from the USA and Germany was primarily directed at anti-Semitism in connection with the associated Durban process and the singling out of a single region in the context of the wider problem of racism.

Sarah Ultes
October 10, 2024
Map of the Month

Vote by UN General Assembly on motion for no action on Russian amendment to the Pact for the Future

Map of the Month 09/2024

On 22 September 2024, the UN General Assembly adopted by consensus the Pact for the Future along with its annexes, the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations. Beforehand, however, the Russian Federation criticised the negotiations and the pact and put forward an amendment which stated „that the United Nations and its system shall not intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any State (…)“. Congo on behalf of the African Group requested a motion for no action which was voted on and supported with 143 states in favour, 7 against (Russia, Iran, Syria, North Korea, Nicaragua, Belarus and Sudan) and 15 abstentions. 28 states did not participate. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called the Pact and its annexes „landmark agreements“ which were "step-change towards more effective, inclusive, networked multilateralism.“ The Pact includes 56 action steps in areas like sustainable development, peace and security, digital cooperation, youth and future generations or global governance.

Sarah Ultes
September 23, 2024
Map of the Month

Donor and Recipient countries and progress of appeals Humanitarian aid worldwide until mid-2024

Map of the Month 08/2024

As of 19 August, World Humanitarian Day, only 26.6% of the required funds for 2024 have been received, which are channeled through UN agencies, funds, NGOs and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. With 6.5 billion USD, the USA is by far the largest donor, followed by the European Commission, Japan and Germany. The 10 largest donors have contributed around 80% of the amount until now, with Russia and China together contributing only around 0.07%. With 1.5 billion USD, the biggest amount is currently going to the Palestinian territories, although only 47% of the corresponding appeal has been covered. The other top 10 recipient countries include Ukraine, Sudan, Syria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, South Sudan and Somalia.

Sarah Ultes
August 19, 2024
Map of the Month

Ratification of the Additional Protocols to the Geneva Convention of 12 August 1949

Map of the Month 08/2024

On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, called for the Geneva Conventions to be made a political priority. While they are considered universally ratified with 196 signatory states, their enforcement remains an enormous challenge. Not only the respect and observance of the conventions and their additional protocols by the signatory states, but also the further ratification of the additional protocols are therefore indispensable in view of the increasing conflicts worldwide. While 20 active conflicts were counted in 1999, there are currently more than 120.

Sarah Ultes
August 15, 2024
Map of the Month

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80th anniversary of the United Nations

A brief overview of the work of some of the Geneva-based UN organisations and their achievements at the 80th anniversary of the United Nations on 22 September 2025

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