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FES Geneva > About us
 

FES Geneva: about us

The current focus of our work lies in three main areas of international Geneva: trade and development (see WTO - World Trade Organization), social policy, and human rights (see UN - United Nations in Geneva). In addition, human security and climate change are on our agenda.
FES Geneva works closely together with Geneva based international organizations: both non-state actors (NGO-activists, trade unionists, journalists, academi-cians and parliamentarians) and representatives of governments (including members of diplomatic missions). We organize conferences, seminars, workshops and dialog sessions, training and information programs with international participation, and provide studies, consultancy reports, and other publications. Our focus lies on developing countries, emphasizing capacity building, South-South dialogue as well as Dialogue on Globalization. We are linked to the Berlin based FES-department forGlobal Policy and Development.
Our office in Geneva is located in close proximity to the Palais des Nations and the WTO building. The office has five permanent staff members and provides internships for students specializing in international affairs, economic and human rights policy.

For further information on the work of FES Geneva, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung

Geneva office

Chemin du Point-du-Jour, 6bis

1202 Geneva

Switzerland

tel.: +41 22 733 34 50

fax: +41 22 733 35 45

 

News & Highlights from Geneva

 


Event

Development Perspectives in the Global Trading System - for Non-OECD, Non-BRICS, and Non-LDC Countries in Latin America

30 - 31 January 2012 at Chateau de Bossey

Further information is coming soon.

 


Event

Expert Meeting on Human Rights, Environment and Climate Change

25 - 27 January 2012 at Chateau de Bossey

Further information is coming soon.

 


Event

LDC Incoming Group to WTO Ministerial Conference

14 - 17 December 2011
The topmost decision-making body of the World Trade Organization is the Ministerial Conference, which meets every two years. In close cooperation with the WTO Secretariat, FES Geneva invited journalists from Least Developed Countries to come to Geneva and be right up close at the Ministerial Conference. Thus, the selected journalists were able to report directly from the spot about any decision taken by the ministers, especially in favour of the LDCs.

 


New Publication

Global Action in Favour of the Poor
FES Geneva in close cooperation with the Geneva Office of the ACP countries just published “Global Action in Favour of the Poor – Recommendations for the Implementation of the Istanbul Programme of Action” written by Elliott Paige. The paper looks at the outcome of the LDC IV Conference from an ACP perspective focusing primarily on trade and productive capacity.

Publication

 


Event

Book Launch and Cocktail Reception

14 December 2011
Leading Geneva trade negotiators recorded their experience in a book:  “Reflections from the Frontline: Developing Country  Negotiators in the WTO”, published by CUTS International with support of the Geneva office of Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, and to be launched 14 December. Honorable speakers will be Harsha V. Singh, Deputy Director-General of WTO, Rob Davies, Minister of Trade and Industry, South Africa and Muhammad Faruk Khan, Minister of Commerce, Bangladesh. Those interested to participate please contactinfo@fes-geneva.org to ask for registration.

Program

 


New Publication

UN LDC-IV Conference 2011 in Istanbul
FES Geneva just published the policy analysis: “Least Developed Countries in the Next Decade: What is there in the Istanbul Programme of Action?” by Debapriya Bhattacharya and Syed Saifuddin Hossain.

International Policy Analysis

 


Event

Panel Discussion on the Right to Development in the Context of Global Challenges
06 December 2011, 15:00-18:00, room XI, Palais des Nations, Geneva

This event, co-organized by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Non Alignment Movement, Nord-Sud XXI and the Geneva office of Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), demonstrated the relevance of the Right to Development vis-à-vis global challenges 2011 and after. It concluded the activities conducted by OHCHR and FES of this anniversary year, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Right to Development.  High-level panelists, including, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Pillay, and UNCTAD Secretary General Mr. Supachai and UNOG Director-General and Secretary-General of the Conference on Disarmament Mr. Tokayev, presented their views just two days after the 25th anniversary of the Declaration of December 4, 1986. In drawing the links between Development, Disarmament and Human Rights, the keynote speakers and following panelists succeeded in showing the encompassing nature of this particular human right, as well as its relevance in today’s interdependent world politics. FES represented the civil society perspective on the topic, drawing form the numerous own activities held during the year as well as from larger NGO activities around the issue.

Program

 


Event

GFMD Global Forum on Migration & Development - "Taking Action on Migration and Development - Coherence, Capacity, and Cooperation"

FES / OHCHR Side Event on "Addressing Irregular Migration through a Human Rights-Based Approach"
01 December 2011, 13:10-13:45, Palais des Nations, Building E, Room XXV, Geneva

Program

Report

UN News Release

 


Event

GFMD Global Forum on Migration & Development - Civil Society Days

FES / OHCHR Side Event on "The Rights of Irregular Migrants - Engaging with the UN Human Rights Mechanisms"
30 November 2011, 12:45-14:00, Palexpo, Room K, Geneva
Program

Report

 


Event

9th Annual Meeting of the ILO Committee of Experts and the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
29 November 2011
“Just and favourable conditions of work“ are guaranteed to every worker in a state signatory to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. But what does this article 7 mean in practice and in different national contexts? This question was debated at a roundtable discussion among the members of the competent ILO and UN Committees.

Program

 


Event

Expert Meeting on Article 7 ICESCR
26 November 2011

Program

 


Event

FES / ICJ Expert Consultation on Fair Working Conditions

10-11 November 2011
Trade unions and other experts of the labor movement do have concrete ideas what fair working conditions should mean and cover in the context of decent work. To insure their voices are heard in the development of international law in this area, FES and ICJ organized an expert consultation which aimed to provide input to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights’ efforts in clarifying the meaning of the respective Covenant article.

Program

List of participants

 


Event

Book Discussion: "Decent Capitalism"
10 November 2011

Decent work has become an integral part of international vocabulary. Capitalism is not known as a term to describe fair and decent conditions for all members of society. Worse than that, we live through a period of global financial and economic crises. “Decent Capitalism”: Isn’t this a contradiction? Such and many other questions were discussed on a closed expert meeting, based on the book  „Decent Capitalism - A Blueprint for Reforming Our Economies”, and published 2011 by Sebastian Dullien, Hansjörg Herr und Christian Kellermann.  

Decent Capitalism

Program

List of participants

Report

 


Event

Training Seminar on the UN Human Rights System
31 October - 04 November 2011

Building on two sub-regional seminars in Morocco and Jordan, this training course for 16 civil society representatives from the Middle Eastern / North African region deepened the participants’ understanding in the UN human rights system and its application in national contexts.

Program in English

Program in Arabic

 


Event

FES/FMR/DIMR Workshop: "The Human Rights Council after the Review - Tangible Changes or Business as Usual?
06-07 October 2011

After five years in existence, the UN Human Rights Council has concluded its review and adopted an outcome which the UN General Assembly is expected to approve. Even if the outcome appears to be disappointing, the HRC will continue to be the appropriate UN body for political assessments on human rights. Against this background as well as the recent development of increasing willingness to address country situations, especially concerning the Arab Spring, our workshop attempted to propose ways to turn the HRC into a more victim and rights holder oriented institution by bringing together parliamentary and civil society actors to strengthen their involvement in the current debate.

Program

List of Participants

Report

Background Paper

Please see the following presentations:

Presentation McMahon

Notes McMahon

Presentation Amnesty International

Presentation ICC

Presentation EMRIP

 


Event

FES/WTO Seminar for Journalists from Latin America

26-30 September 2011

World Trade and Sustainable Development” is the title of the regular one week information seminar for journalists from developing countries specialized in economy and trade. Once a year, FES Geneva and the World Trade Organization (WTO) select journalists from about 15 countries to provide them with a deeper understanding of the multilateral trading system and social aspects of development.  End of September 2011 journalists from various Latin American countries participated at this seminar.  

  ILC reception Sommer

Program

Information

List of Participants

 


Event

FES Session during WTO Public Forum: "Trade in an Instable Environment : the Impact of Fragility and Corruption"

21 September 2011, 09:00-11:00, Room W, WTO Building

Trade occurs. It occurs between countries, between regions, between the small and the big ones. Trade is affected by tariffs, by non-tariff barriers, by subsidies, by export restrictions, and … by conflicts. This session explored the specific environment in which trade in conflict areas takes place along the following questions:

- What are the major challenges for an economic recovery in conflict areas and who should deal with them?

- Where are the breeding-grounds for corruption and how to deprive them?

- Is it possible to boost trade in conflicting areas despite all the challenges? And if so, how can it be done?

Speakers were Dr Elisabeth Schoendorf (SWP-German Institute for International and Security Affairs), Dr. Achim Wennmann (Geneva Peacebuidling Platform replacing Chantal Uwimana from Transparency International) and Jean Amat Amoros (Gundara). 

Program

Information

Report

 


Event

ICAN International Conference on Nuclear Disarmament

17-19 September 2011

The multi-layered threat of nuclear weapons internationally and specifically for the region of the Middle East was discussed in this conference, bringing together youth activists and experts on disarmament issues from all over the world. While the first two days aimed at strengthening campaigning and lobby activities, the third day focused on the political situation in the Middle East and an establishment of a nuclear weapon free zone in the MENA region
Program

 


Newsletter September 2011

The Geneva Office of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES Geneva) presents its newsletter, designed to infrom you of our activities and publications as well as of recent and upcoming events and developments at the Geneva-based international organizations.

Subscribe to newsletter

Newsletter September 2011

 


Event

Expert Meeting: "What Next for Business and Human Rights at the United Nations?"

04 - 05 July 2011

At its June 2011 session, the UN Human Rights Council considered the Guiding Principles for the implementation of the UN endorsed “Protect, Respect, Remedy” framework on business and human rights proposed by UN Special Representative on Business and Human Rights, John Ruggie. This expert meeting will provide the opportunity for an in-depth discussion on the Guiding Principles and the decisions taken by the HRC regarding follow up and further work in this area both by the UN human rights system and at national level over the coming years. 

ILC reception Sommer

 

Program

Report

International Policy Analysis