Participation and positions of Switzerland

Since becoming a member in September 2002, Switzerland has established itself as an active member of the United Nations – one that makes constructive efforts to find pragmatic solutions to the issues at hand.

United Nations general secretary, António Guterres, behind two lecterns between the Swiss and the UN flags
United Nations general secretary, António Guterres, during his first visit to Bern in 2017 © Keystone

Switzerland enjoys particular credibility among the international community due to the fact that it does not indulge in power politics and pursues no covert objectives.

No nation can possibly face the great challenges of our age alone. It is therefore in the interests of Switzerland to work for a stronger United Nations. Switzerland takes an active part in the debate about the UN reforms, putting forward a number of ideas and pragmatic proposals for solutions. One example of this is the creation of the UN Human Rights Council, which originated from an idea put forward by Switzerland.

In other fields, too, Switzerland conducts its affairs through the UN whenever an internationally coordinated approach is more rational and efficient than an individual project. This is the case in peace and security policy, development and humanitarian aid, and in economic, social and cultural matters. The framework of the UN is also important for the maintenance of international law and its continued development.

Official meetings of the UN’s main political organs can be followed on UN Web TV. Voting positions of individual states and other materials can also be consulted on the UN Digital Library. Switzerland’s voting behaviour in the main political organs (General Assembly, Economic and Social Council, Security Council and Human Rights Council), of which it is a member, is published at regular intervals in the following table.

Table – Voting behaviour of Switzerland in the 78th UN General Assembly (as of 24.01.2024) (PDF, 7 Pages, 423.2 kB, English)

  


Last update 01.03.2024

Contact

UN Division

Bundesgasse 28
3003 Bern

Phone

+41 58 464 69 22

Start of page