geneva un headquarters tour

Working for peace, rights  and well-being

Geneva press briefing: unece, undp, unhcr, ifrc, ohchr, fao, wfp, icrc - 15.10.24.

🎦 War in Lebanon; Situation of children in Gaza; 🎦 Innovative technologies and financing for mine action in Ukraine; 🎦 World Food Day; 27 million people go hungry as lean season sets in in southern Africa; 🎦 Children malnutrition in northeastern Nigeria; 🎦 OHCHR calls on Tunisia to uphold rule of law and democratic freedoms.

Gaza: School set for polio vaccine campaign hit in deadly strike, says UNRWA - 14.10.24

A second round of polio vaccinations for thousands of children began in central Gaza on Monday despite reported strikes on a school-turned-shelter in Nuseirat and a hospital courtyard in Deir Al-Balah where “multiple tents” were set ablaze as people slept.

Geneva Press Briefing: UNHCR, OHCHR, WHO, UNICEF, OCHA, UNCTAD - 11.10.24

🎦 Decade of Action against Statelessness; 🎦 Update on Conflict in the Middle East; 🎦 Situation of Hospitals in Gaza; 🎦 Polio Vaccination Campaign in Gaza; 🎦 Homicides, Enforced Disappearance and Judicial System Reform in Mexico; 🎦 Expanding Conflict and Deadly Floods Exacerbate the Humanitarian Situation in Myanmar; 🎦 OCHA Leadership; 🎦 Nihon Hidankyo Wins 2024 Nobel Peace Prize

Lebanon crisis: Health workers and facilities ‘targeted or hit’ - 10.10.24

In Lebanon, health workers and medical facilities have continued to be hit and killed by ongoing Israeli bombardment, a week since Israel sent troops and armoured vehicles into the south of the country and issued evacuation orders, UN humanitarians said on Thursday.

Happening at UN Geneva

Human rights committee (ccpr).

The Human Rights Committee is the body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by its States parties. The Committee's work promotes the enjoyment of civil and political rights, resulting in numerous changes of law, policy and practice. As such, it has improved the lives of individuals in all parts of the world. It continues to strive to ensure all the civil and political rights guaranteed by the Covenant can be enjoyed in full and without discrimination, by all people.

Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is the body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. The CEDAW Committee consists of 23 experts on women’s rights from around the world.

The CEDAW treaty is a tool that helps women around the world to bring about change in their daily life. In countries that have ratified the treaty, CEDAW has proved invaluable in opposing the effects of discrimination, which include violence, poverty, and lack of legal protections, along with the denial of inheritance, property rights, and access to credit.

75th Session of UNHCR Executive Committee

At its annual session, the Executive Committee (ExCom) reviews the work of the Standing Committee of the preceding year and establishes its programme of work for the next 12 months.

Geneva Peace Week - 11th edition

Geneva Peace Week is a leading annual forum in the international peacebuilding calendar through which organizations in Geneva and their international partners come together to share knowledge and practice on a diverse range of topics related to peace across contexts and disciplines. The 2024 edition will mark the 11th edition of Geneva Peace Week. 

Website Highlights

• Public Transport

Geneva.info » Sights » United Nations

Initially built for the League of Nations, the construction of the Palace of Nations began in 1929 and ended in 1938, a year before the League’s demise. Further infrastructure works were undertaken in the 50’s and 60’s resulting in the building we know today. Officially, the Palace of Nations has been the ONU/UN’s headquarters since 1946, shortly after WWII. Paradoxically, Switzerland only joined the UN in 2002.

Take a bus number 8 from Gare Cornavin to Appia bus stop, right next to the UN. Another way to access UN Office: go to Palais des Nations (famous square with Borken Chair), by either tramway 15 or buses 5, 8, 11, 22, 28, V, F and Z. From here, walk a brief 5 minutes up the street Avenue de la Paix towards the main UN entry at Avenue de la Paix 12 .

United Nations Guide

Group guided tours, which are the only way how to get inside the UN, are available in over 15 languages. From the Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Room to the Assembly Hall, the two-hour long tour will take you across all the main landmarks of this historical building.

The Serpent Bar, an extremely 70's cafeteria with a view over the lake and peacocks walking in the front garden. The perfect opportunity to take a selfie while enjoying fair-trade organic foods and drinks.

The SAFI shop is restricted to UN Office representatives. It sells the diplomat’s full panoply, from toiletries to tailor-made suits and fancy watches. The SAFI shop is not duty-free.

A book and souvenirs shop is available to visitors, it offers a large selection of books from international governmental organisations including UNESCO.

Over the years, the UN Office has been the scene of espionage, surveillance telephone tappings were found in different rooms of the building. Conveniently, nobody ever knew what country was responsible for installing those systems.

• Art collection (2000 international works of art)
• The Re-Birth sculpture (by Michelangelo Pistoletto, unveiled October 24 th 2015)
• Adapted for disabled guests
• Bar cafeteria
• Free WIFI hotspots

Around United Nations

• Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum - One of Geneva's top museums, mapping the history and current mission of International Committee of the Red Cross.
• Ariana Museum - glass and ceramics museum.
• Ariana park (46 hectares)
• Place des Nations , with it's famous Broken Chair.
• Geneva's Botanical Gardens and Conservatory

Official Website

Whether a visitor, press or delegate, the very complete UN website has an area dedicated to you.

Public and private conferences and committees are held daily, usually themed after peace, politics and humanistic values.

Have a look at the complete program for moreinformation.

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Jeunesse Mondiale Unie

Visit the UN in Geneva

WELCOME TO THE UNITED NATIONS

Take a tour of the Palais des Nations and learn about the United Nations and the UN’s work in Geneva. Our tour guides will inform you about the organization and its activities to maintain world peace, foster international relations and development.

You will discover the Palais des Nations, a unique building, formerly the headquarters of the League of Nations. The Palais des Nations, an outstanding testimony to twentieth century architecture, is situated in the beautiful Ariana park in Geneva, Switzerland. 

Due to the ongoing renovations in the Palais des Nations, our tour offers are limited and subject to changes. Please read the below information carefully and check this page regularly for updates. 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

During the renovation work, guided tours are temporarily not suitable for persons with reduced mobility., please be informed that tours for individual visitors are currently limited and sell out very quickly. we encourage you to check our website regularly. thank you for your understanding., before the tour, once you have your ticket(s).

As soon as you receive your ticket(s), every person in your group needs to register for an access badge. The registration link for access badges is on the ticket(s). Please register as soon as your receive your ticket(s). Participants will then receive a digital badge with a QR code sent to their email address which they can print out and bring along or store on their mobile phone. The QR code will be scanned on the day to enter the Palais des Nations.

On the tour day

• All visitors must carry a valid passport (UN Member or Observer State). ID cards from the Schengen Zone are also accepted. Passports or ID cards will be checked at the entrance gate.
• Please be at the meeting point mentioned in your booking confirmation, 30 minutes before your tour to allow time for security screening and transfer to the Visitors’ Center.  

Discovering International Geneva

Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations Office and to the other international organisations in Geneva

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• International Geneva

International Geneva offers various possibilities of guided tours and visits of its institutions and iconic buildings and places, including the following:

Palais des Nations

The Palais des Nations, at the heart of International Geneva, has been the UN's European headquarters since 1946. It functions as a global diplomatic conference centre and operational base for a wide range of economic, social and human rights activities.

Over 120,000 visitors take a tour of the Palais des Nations each year to learn about the work of the UN and UN Office at Geneva and the famous Human Rights Council Chamber.

  Visiting the Palais des Nations

ICRC Museum

Geneva is the birthplace of the Red Cross Movement   and the humanitarian capital of the world. Dedicated to the work of the Movement's founder Henry Dunant, the Interntional Museum of the Red Cross and Red Crescent provides a unique opportunity to delve into the history of humanitarian action. Situated opposite the Palais des Nations, a museum tour is a perfect way to learn about the work of International Geneva.

The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) is the world's largest particle physics laboratory and seeks to unlock the mysteries of the universe. CERN provides guided tours and permanent exhibitions, where you can explore the most important outstanding questions of modern physics, gain an understanding of the Higgs boson, and learn more about the organisation and the experiments conducted.

Visiting CERN

Guided tours for schools

The Foundation EDUKI  seeks to promote education and raise young people's awareness about the work of international organisations and international cooperation. Its objective is to strengthen Switzerland's international standing and help establish lifelong links between international organisations and young people.

The EDUKI Foundation is in constant contact with international organisations and NGOs. It arranges visits, meetings and debates, provides information on various subjects, develops tools and supports activities created by or for school children and students.

Arranging visits, meetings or activities with EDUKI

Visiting the Palais des Nations

Red Cross Movement

International Museum of the Red Cross and Red Crescent

UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)

UNHCR Visitors' Centre

European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)

EDUKI Foundation

Arranging visits, meetings or activities with EDUKI

Start of page Last update 23.06.2023

Contact visits :

M. Frederic Ballenegger

Second Secretary

Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the UN

Media and communication

Rue de Varembé 9-11 / CP 194 1211 Geneva 20

Mobile : +41 79 726 66 30

[email protected]

Contact press and media :

Mme Paola Ceresetti

Spokesperson

Media and public relations

Rue de Varembé 9-11 / CP 1941211 Geneva 20

Tel. +41 58 482 24 23

Mobile : +41 79 240 19 18

[email protected]