Red Cross, UN, Geneva and international organisations

Switzerland is host country to many international organisations. Most of them have their seat in Geneva. The European seat of the UN is there, and for example the World Health Organization WHO. The UN Human Rights Council also meets in Geneva. In 2006 it replaced the former UN Human Rights Commission, which was also in Geneva.

The oldest and best known is the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The Geneva businessman Henry Dunant founded it in 1863 with other people from Geneva. In 1859 in Italy he had seen the Battle of Solferino, where thousands of wounded soldiers died without help. The ICRC helps victims of war. Dunant received the first Nobel Peace Prize in 1901. The ICRC still has its headquarters in Geneva today.

Switzerland has only been a member of the UN since 2002. The people approved joining in a popular vote. In the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe), Switzerland works for peace, above all in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. In 2026 Switzerland holds the chairmanship of the OSCE.

Sport and business also meet in Switzerland. The world football federation FIFA has its seat in Zurich. Many other sports federations are in Lausanne. Every year in January, the World Economic Forum (WEF) takes place in Davos. Politicians and company heads from all over the world meet there.

Memory aid: Geneva = Red Cross and UN, Zurich = FIFA, Davos = WEF.