Publications

Geneva Telegram on the 10th meeting of the negotiating body on the pandemic agreement

The "Geneva Telegram" deals with events in Geneva's multilateral organizations on a current topic, this time the 10th meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body on the Pandemic Agreement (INB10), which met in Geneva on 16 and 17 July 2024.

After the international community failed to agree on a binding pandemic agreement by the 77th World Health Assembly (WHA) from May 26 to June 1, 2024, a decision was made to continue the negotiation process beyond the May 2024 deadline. On July 16 and 17, 2024, the intergovernmental negotiating body, comprising all member states, reconvened. This two-day meeting had been planned as a purely organizational session back in May, so the focus was on further work planning to conclude the negotiations.

Geneva Telegram with key insights from UNHCR’s new global trends report

The "Geneva Telegram" explores events in Geneva-based multilateral organizations on a current topic. This time, the focus is on the new global trends report of the UNHCR.

On June 13, 2024, the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) presented its new report on global refugee trends. It focuses primarily on developments in the calendar year 2023, in which 117.3 million people were displaced, 8% more than in the previous year which represents the 12th consecutive annual increase in number of people forcibly displaced.

Schweizer Wählerinnen und Wähler lehnen Krankenkassenreform-Vorschläge ab

Am vergangenen Sonntag wurde in der Schweiz über zwei Initiativen zur Senkung der Gesundheitskosten abgestimmt. Trotz großer Sorgen über die steigenden Kosten im Gesundheitssystem scheiterten die Vorlagen der Sozialdemokratischen Partei (SP) - die Prämien- Entlastungs-Initiative - und der Partei Die Mitte - die Kostenbremse-Initiative - mit jeweils 44,5% und 37,2% Zustimmung. Die Vorlage der Schweizer Impfgegner „Für Freiheit und körperliche Unversehrtheit“ erfuhr mit lediglich 26,3% der Stimmen eine klare Absage. Als einzig erfolgreiche Vorlage des Wahlabends wurde das „Bundesgesetz über eine sichere Stromversorgung mit erneuerbaren Energien“ mit 68,7% der Stimmen angenommen. Die Wahlbeteiligung lag bei 45,4% und somit knapp unter dem Durchschnitt der letzten Volksabstimmungen.

Geneva Telegram on the 77th World Health Assembly

The "Geneva Telegram" deals with events in Geneva's multilateral organizations, this time the 77th World Health Assembly (WHA), which met in Geneva from May 27 to June 1, 2024.

The 77th session of the World Health Assembly (WHA) marked significant progress in the global health agenda. A milestone was the adoption of the 14th General Programme of Work (GPW14) 2025-2028, which defines the future priorities and strategies of the World Health Organization (WHO). Another key topic was the launch of the investment round, which is expected to culminate in November at the G20 summit in Brasília, to make WHO's financing more predictable, flexible, and resilient.

Geneva Barometer

Developments among Geneva-based international organisations from January to May 2024

The ‘Geneva Barometer’ takes an occasional look at selected developments among international organizations based in Geneva.

Volksabstimmung zwingt die Regierung zum Ausbau des Schweizer Sozialstaats -

Die 13. Monatsrente wird kommen

Die Schweizer Wählerinnen und Wähler haben am vergangenen Sonntag, den 03. März, über zwei Volksinitiativen abgestimmt. Dabei hat das linke Lager mit ihrer Vorlage für eine 13. AHV-Rente einen bemerkenswert Sieg eingefahren und 58,2% der Ja-Stimmen erhalten. Die Vorlage der Jungfreisinnigen (FDP) über eine Koppelung des Renteneintrittsalters an die durchschnittliche Lebenserwartung wurde dagegen mit 74,7% der Stimmen abgeschmettert. Die klaren Wahlergebnisse zwingen die Regierung nun zum schnellen Handeln, da die Frage nach der Finanzierung der 13. Monatsrente nicht geklärt ist.

"The Most Important Document of the Century"

75 Years Universal Declaration of Human Rights

In 1948, just a few years after the end of the Second World War, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was a visionary document that enabled humanity to tell its story anew. Since 1948, the Declaration has inspired numerous international legal norms. It has served and continues to serve as a source for political movements that strive for coexistence in freedom and respect for the rights of all individuals.

The Art of Crisis Management

The Pandemic Agreement – An Opportunity for Health for all

The pandemic agreement responds to global coordination deficits during the COVID-19 pandemic. It aims to improve preparedness for future pandemics by promoting cooperation without jeopardizing national sovereignty. However, national dissatisfaction could have a negative impact on the negotiations. Fears that national sovereignty or the protection of human rights could be undermined by the pandemic agreement or the World Health Organization (WHO) are unfounded, as national legislative and decision-making processes will remain crucial. Concluding the negotiations by May 2024 is the declared goal, although there are still some points of contention. The realistic concern is that the WHO will end up with insufficient powers and resources and will not produce an effective framework for preventing and responding to future pandemics, rather than becoming a "global health police" with far-reaching powers of intervention. The pandemic agreement should be seen as an opportunity to positively transform lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic into clear and transparent rules to defend against future pandemics.

Shift to the Right in Switzerland

SVP Wins on a Broad Front

While climate policy hardly played a role compared to the last Swiss parliamentary election, the SVP scored a clear election victory with its migration policy issue. It is followed by the SP, Die Mitte, the FDP, the Greens and the Green Liberals.

50 Jahre Mitgliedschaft Deutschlands in den Vereinten Nationen - eine Momentaufnahme

Am 18. September 2023 jährte sich der Beitritt Deutschlands in die Vereinten Nationen zum 50. Mal. Zeit für eine Momentaufnahme und für Reflektionen. Welche Rolle spielt Deutschland aktuell im UN-System? Wie wird Deutschland international wahrgenommen? Wie unterscheidet sich deutsche Diplomatie von der anderer internationaler Akteure? Die hier beschriebenen Einblicke und Einschätzungen basieren auf einer Interviewreihe des Autors in New York zur gewachsenen internationalen Verantwortung und der Soft Power Deutschlands im UN-System.