Upon their arrival in Geneva, the council presidents will meet with representatives of the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the UN and other international organisations represented in the city to discuss the challenges and possibilities of multilateralism. As a centre of global governance and host to 42 international organisations, 178 states and 750 NGOs, International Geneva must constantly identify and develop solutions to the global challenges facing our societies, in areas such as climate protection, global health, sustainable finance, digitalisation and innovation. As host nation, Switzerland has provided loans for the construction and renovation of buildings belonging to Geneva-based international organisations, thus ensuring the latter’s continued presence in the city. Ms Kälin and Mr Hefti also plan to visit the Strategic Heritage Plan site, where the Palais des Nations is being renovated, modernised and expanded.
The Council presidents will meet with the new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Volker Türk of Austria, with topics for discussion to include human rights concerns in the context of current conflicts around the world. They will also meet with ICRC vice president Gilles Carbonnier to discuss the ICRC's humanitarian work around the world. The ICRC provides emergency assistance to millions of people living in conflict zones, including visiting detainees and restoring family links.
To conclude their visit to International Geneva, the Council presidents will be received by the president of the Geneva cantonal government, Mauro Poggia, and his colleague Nathalie Fontanet for a working lunch.
Meeting various International Geneva stakeholders will enable Ms Kälin and Mr Hefti, the highest representatives of the Swiss parliament, to better understand how the presence of these organisations impacts Switzerland, particularly in terms of the country’s visibility on the world stage and Geneva’s essential role as a platform for debating important global issues.