United Nations staff can start returning in early June to their Geneva offices, which have been deserted because of the coronavirus.
Provided the Swiss government goes ahead with the third phase of deconfinement, conferences can also take place from mid-June at the Palais des Nations but with formats different from before the crisis, UN Geneva Director-General Tatiana Valovaya told the press on Friday.
She could not say, however, whether the UN Human Rights Council session scheduled for the end of June would take place. This was a decision for UN member states, she told journalists.
Social distancing
As well as those required on site, other staff will start returning on a voluntary basis, she said. The biggest challenge will be to ensure social distancing at the UN’s European headquarters. Lines have already been marked on the floors to help with this, and numbers of people within a room will be restricted. Only one person at a time will be allowed in the lifts.
Valovaya expressed confidence that International Geneva would be more “efficient” and “more relevant than ever” after the crisis.
Coronavirus has shown that it is “more important than ever” to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development GoalsExternal link, according to Valovaya. She said an online discussion was planned for the end of June on how the crisis has affected the labour market around the world.
More
More
Cashflow crisis looms over UN in Geneva
This content was published on
The United Nations is facing a cashflow crisis, as 63 states – including its largest contributor, the United States – have not paid their annual dues.
Young undocumented migrants gain easier access to vocational training
This content was published on
Rejected asylum-seekers and young undocumented migrants in Switzerland will have easier access to basic vocational training from June 1.
Migration: Swiss government wants to shorten reunification period for families
This content was published on
Family members of people temporarily admitted to Switzerland should in future be able to join them after two years instead of three.
This content was published on
2023 was a record year for the Rhaetian Railway in several respects. Never before has the narrow-gauge railway in Graubünden, eastern Switzerland, transported so many passengers and cars.
Swiss CFOs much more optimistic despite global uncertainty
This content was published on
The main concerns of business leaders in Switzerland are geopolitical uncertainty and the important trading partners Germany and China.
Record organ donation in Switzerland despite high rejection rates
This content was published on
More organ donations were recorded in Switzerland in 2023 than ever before. This was despite a high rejection rate of 58% by surviving relatives.
This content was published on
Seven years after the death of record-breaking Swiss mountain climber Ueli Steck, his estate is going to the Alpine Museum of Switzerland in Bern.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Covid-19 to dominate ‘unprecedented’ virtual World Health Assembly
This content was published on
Fair access to vaccines and treatments, and an evaluation of WHO's response to the pandemic are set to dominate the World Health Assembly on Monday.
How China is filling America’s shoes at the United Nations
This content was published on
China appears to be filling the political vacuum left by the US, as it withdraws its leadership from the multilateral system.
UN reforms in 2018 are top priority, says Swiss diplomat
This content was published on
Urgent reforms to the United Nations system, global migration, sustainable development and peace-building are top priorities for Switzerland.
UN interns feel ‘left behind’ amid coronavirus pandemic
This content was published on
Interns at United Nations agencies say their precarious work situation has been exacerbated with the outbreak of the virus.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.