The Coimbra Group meets the UN

Coimbra Group High-Level Seminar on Research Policy

This year’s Coimbra Group (CG) high-level research policy seminar will gather rectors and vice-rectors of its member universities as well as senior representatives of UN agencies and multilateral organisations around the challenges of Agenda 2030. How can universities contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how do the SDGs impact university research? What are the tools to optimise the interface between science and policy? The seminar will be held at the Palais des Nations, in the heart of International Geneva, thus providing the perfect setting for formal and informal interactions with university rectors and high-level UN decision makers.

The event in pictures

Graphic Recording of The workshop

Report of the workshop

22nd October2021 Workshop Report External Online

Lire plus de publications sur Calaméo

21 - 22 October 2021

Contact information

Olivier Vincent
olivier.vincent(at)unige.ch

Anna Quici
quici(at)coimbra-group.eu

Download the programme (pdf)

Programme

THURSDAY, 21 OCTOBER 2021

10h30

Visit of International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum (ICRC) – OPTIONAL (by registration)
Transfer and lunch at Palais des Nations

13h00

Access to Palais des Nations, through security office at the Pregny Gate.
Please note that the security check can take up to 30-45 minutes, depending on the number of visitors. Do not forget to bring your ID card (if from Schengen area) and/or passport, in addition to the registration confirmation (an email with a QR code) received from the UN acrreditation sytem (indico).

13h30

Registration, UN Library, Palais des Nations.

14h00

Opening addresses, Coordinated by Francesco Pisano, Director, UN Library & Archives Geneva
- Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General, UN Office Geneva
- Yves Flückiger, Rector, University of Geneva and Ludovic Thilly, Chair, CG Executive Board
- Nathalie Fontanet, State Counsellor, State of Geneva

More about the speakers

Francesco Pisano

Director, United Nations Library & Archives Geneva

Francesco Pisano is an expert in international affairs with a professional background in humanitarian af-fairs, risk management, and research on knowledge systems. He has studied international relations with a specialisation in diplomatic studies and conflict re-solution, and law with a focus on public international law. He is a member of the UN Geneva Senior Management Team. The UN Library & Archives Geneva is a centre for research and knowledge exchange, a space dedicated to cultural diplomacy and international outreach.

Tatiana Valovaya

Director-General, United Nations Office at Geneva (UN Geneva)

Tatiana Valovaya is the 13th Director-General of the UN Geneva and the first woman to occupy this position. She has more than 35 years of experience in public service, diplomacy and journalism. Ms. Valovaya holds the scientific degree of Candidate of Economic Sciences. She has written more than 170 scientific and journalistic publications on issues of international monetary and credit relations, European and Eurasian economic integration and multilateral cooperation in the CIS framework.

Yves Flückiger

Rector, University of Geneva

Yves Flückiger holds a degree in Economics and Sociology as well as a doctorate in Political Economy. He joined the Faculty at the University of Geneva in 1992 directing the University Employment Observatory and the Leading House center of excellence in Education Economics. Since 15 July 2015 he has been the Rector of the University of Geneva and since February 2020, the President of swissuniversities.

Ludovic Thilly

Chair, Coimbra Group Executive Board

Ludovic Thilly is a Physicist and works on the deformation mechanisms of (nano-)materials. He is Full Professor at the University of Poitiers. Since 2012, he is Executive Vice-Rector in charge of European Networks. Member of the Executive Board of the Coimbra Group since 2015, he was elected Chair in June 2017 and re-elected in June 2020 for four years.

Nathalie Fontanet

State Counsellor, State of Geneva

Nathalie Fontanet worked as a deputy director in the legal department of a Swiss bank from 2006 to 2018. Nathalie Fontanet's political involvement began in 2003, when she joined the former Liberal party. Elected as a member of the municipal parliament of the City of Geneva the same year, she served until 2009, notably in the security, planning and finance commissions. In 2007, she entered the Geneva's parliament. She was re-elected in 2009 and again in 2013. She was a member of various commissions, including health, education, as well as culture and sports. In 2018, she was elected as a member of the Geneva State Council and became head of the Department of Finance and Human Resources.

14h20

KEYNOTE Jürg Lauber, Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations in Geneva.

More about the speaker

Jürg Lauber

Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations (UN) in Geneva Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), Switzerland

Since 1st September 2020, Jürg Lauber has been the Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the UN and to the other international organisations in Geneva. From 2015 to 2020, he served as Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the UN in New York. He continues to chair of the Open-ended Working Group on developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security. Before joining the FDFA in 1993 he worked in peacekeeping missions in Namibia (UNTAG) and Korea (Panmunjom). Jürg Lauber has a law degree from the University of Zurich.

14h40

ROUNDTABLE 1 “Leveraging science and knowledge to achieve the SDGs: views of four different stakeholders”
Mille Bøjer, Director, Reos Partner, Jacques Ducrest, delegate of the Federal Council for the 2030 Agenda, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Paul Ladd, Director, UNRISD, Peter Lievens, Vice-Rector, KU Leuven. Moderation: Cláudia Cavadas, Vice-Rector for Research, University of Coimbra

More about the speakers

Mille Bøjer

Director, Reos Partner

Mille Bøjer is a Founder and Director of Reos Partners, an international social enterprise specialised in multi-stakeholder and multi-disciplinary collaboration. She currently leads the European team out of Switzerland, having previously co-founded the Reos Partners offices in both Johannesburg and São Paulo. Over the past 15 years, Mille has initiated, led and facilitated complex multi-stakeholder processes on high-stakes challenges around the world on topics including justice transformation, education, democracy, health, sustainable business, ocean conservation, drugs, civil society, and regional economic transitions.

Jacques Ducrest

Delegate of the Federal Council for the 2030 Agenda Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Switzerland

Jacques Ducrest is a swiss diplomat. In March 2019 he was appointed Delegate of the Swiss Federal Council for the 2030 Agenda. In this capacity, he chairs the 2030 Agenda Steering Committee, which is the strategic guiding and coordinating body for sustainable development policy at Swiss federal level.

Paul Ladd

Director, United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD)

Paul Ladd has been Director of UNRISD since October 2015. Before taking up this position he had spent 10 years with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), where most recently he had been Director of the team supporting consultations and technical inputs for the 2030 Development Agenda. UNRISD is an autonomous research institute within the UN system that undertakes interdisciplinary research and policy analysis on the social dimensions of contemporary development issues.

Peter Lievens

Vice-Rector International Policy and Interculturality, KU Leuven

Peter Lievens is professor in experimental physics in the Department of Physics and Astronomy of KU Leuven. He obtained his PhD in 1991 in nuclear physics. He was Fellow at ISOLDE in the Experimental Physics Division at CERN, Geneva in 1991-1992. He obtained tenure at KU Leuven in 2001 as research professor and is full professor since 2007. Since 2017 he is KU Leuven’s Vice Rector responsible for International Policy, LERU and Alumni Policy – recently the focus on Interculturality was added. He has a seat on the Una Europa Board and is coordinating the 1Europe European Universities Initiative.

Cláudia Cavadas

Vice-Rector for Research, University of Coimbra

Cláudia Cavadas is Director of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Research and Professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Coimbra. Member of the Executive Board of the Coimbra Group since 2019, she was elected Vice-Chair in June 2021. Cláudia Cavadas works on the field of aging and neuroendocrinology and is co-author of around 70 publications in international peer-reviewed journals. She was the elected President of the Portuguese Society of Pharmacology.

16h20

ROUNDTABLE 2 “Strengthening the interface between Science and Policy” Alexis Roig, CEO, SciTech DiploHub, Nicolas Seidler, Director, Geneva Science Policy Interface, Soumya Swaminathan, Chief Scientist, WHO. Moderation: Coco Norén, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Uppsala University.

More about the speakers

Alexis Roig

CEO, SciTech DiploHub - Barcelona Science and Technology Diplomacy Hub

Alexis Roig serves as CEO of SciTech DiploHub, a pioneering non-profit public-private partnership that represents Barcelona’s science, technology, higher education, and innovation ecosystem abroad. He is also a Professor at the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology and at Pompeu Fabra University, Associate Researcher at CIDOB, Commissioner for International Affairs of the Barcelona Metropolitan Region, and has over 10 years’ experience as Senior Advisor on Science Diplomacy for ministries of Foreign Affairs, Science, Research, and Education across Asia, Europe and Latin America.

Nicolas Seidler

Director, Geneva Science Policy Interface (GSPI)

Nicolas Seidler has been the Executive Director of the GSPI since October 2018. Backed by leading research institutions in Switzerland and Europe, the GSPI is an independent, neutral platform that leverages synergies between actors of the International Geneva ecosystem and an extensive network of researchers by facilitating connections, supporting collaborative processes and inspiring effective practices at the interface of science, policy and implementation. Previously, Nicolas Seidler spent 10 years as Senior Policy Advisor at the Internet Society. He holds a Masters in International Relations and a Masters in Communication and Media Sciences.

Soumya Swaminathan

Chief Scientist, World Health Organisation (WHO)

Dr Soumya Swaminathan was appointed WHO’s first Chief Scientist in March 2019. She is a paediatrician and a globally recognized researcher on tuberculosis and HIV. Dr Swaminathan was Secretary to the Government of India for Health Research and Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research from 2015 to 2017. She received her academic training in India, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, and has published more than 450 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. The Science division’s role is to ensure that WHO stays ahead of the curve and leverages advances in science and technology for public health and clinical care, as well as ensuring that the norms, standards and guidelines produced by WHO are scientifically excellent, relevant and timely.

Coco Norén

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Uppsala University

Coco Norén is Professor of French and the former Dean of the Faculty of Languages (2014-2020). In 2015 she was elected a member of the Research Leads Group in the Matariki Network (2015-2020) and she has chaired Uppsala University’s Steering Committee for ENLIGHT, a European University Alliance, since 2021. Her field of research is argumentation, text linguistics and polyphony in modern French, in particular European parliamentary discourse and spoken practices. She joined the Executive Board of the Coimbra Group in June 2021.

17h30

Networking break with the speakers.

18h15

Private guided tour of Palais des Nations.

19h30

Cocktail dinner with guests (Permanent missions and UN representatives, Geneva and Swiss officials, UNIGE governance) at Le Vieux-Bois Restaurant.

FRIDAY, 22 OCTOBER 2021

8h30

Security check.

9h00

Introduction.

Yves Flückiger, Rector, University of Geneva

More about the speaker

Yves Flückiger

Rector, University of Geneva

9h10

WORKSHOP “October 2031: Forecasting the Future Together” An interactive working session, between representatives from The Coimbra Group Universities, UN Agencies and the impact investment eco-system. Facilitated by Elaine France.

Pre-session Preparatory Pack (PDF Document)

More about the session

Collaboration is the key to unfolding futures which turn the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into reality for the many, rather than the few. In this fast-paced, interactive session, you will explore themed scenarios designed around the drivers and signals of change happening now, to imagine an October 2031 where the UN SDGs have been achieved because of the insights shared, actions taken and relationships forged in 2021. This session focuses on catalysing these relationships, to unleash the incredible potential of the work of UN Agencies to inform research; and to reinforce the value of research informing the achievement of the SDGs. In the words of Wangari Maathai, “Just imagine the power of what we can do.”

Elaine France

Founder, Flow In Action

Elaine France worked for 25 years as a change-maker and understands the challenges of taking action as a global citizen, growing sustainable solutions from within communities, rather than ‘doing’ to them. She works to create a circle of impact, empowering each one so that we share and transfer skills around the globe, so that lasting positive change happens organically from the inside out.

11h30

Plenary - worskhop results discussion.

12h45

Lunch at Palais des Nations.

14h00

“Science diplomacy beyond slogans: the CERN experience”
Maurizio Bona, Senior Advisor, Relations with Parliaments and Science for Policy, European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), followed by a discussion.

More about the speaker

Maurizio Bona

Senior Advisor, Relations with Parliaments and Science for Policy European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)

Maurizio Bona holds a Doctor degree on material science. He participated in the design and development phases of CERN’s LHC superconducting magnets. He was instrumental to develop the CERN network of relations with other international organizations and to obtain the status of Observer for CERN in the General Assembly of the United Nations. His present main focus is on strengthening bridges between science and Parliaments.

14h30

“Strategic Intelligence at the WEF”
Stephan Mergenthaler, Head of Strategic Intelligence, World Economic Forum (WEF), followed by a discussion.

More about the speaker

Stephan Mergenthaler

Head of Strategic Intelligence, Member of the Executive Committee, World Economic Forum (WEF)

Stephan Mergenthaler oversees the Forum’s global expert networks as well as its strategic analysis capacity on global trends. Prior to joining the WEF, he served as Research Associate with the Global Public Policy Institute in Berlin (GPPi). He holds a PhD in International Relations from Humboldt University Berlin.

15h00

KEYNOTE "The new European Research Area and the role of universities"
Anna Panagopoulou, Director, ERA & Innovation, European Commission, followed by a discussion.

More about the speaker

Anna Panagopoulou

Director, European Research Area (ERA) & Innovation, Directorate General Research and Innovation, European Commission

Since July 2021, Anna Panagopoulou has been Director of ‘ERA & Innovation’ at the Research and Innovation DG of the European Commission. The directorate is responsible for Research and Innovation Policy, reinforces at crosscutting level the engagement with citizens and society, with academic and research organisations and with research and industrial infrastructures. The directorate is also responsible to promote dialogue on research and innovation policy, investments and reforms. Ms. Panagopoulou has been in the Commission in various policy and management roles for 24 years.

16h00

Break.

16h20

Internal discussion for the Coimbra Group. Key takeaways from the seminar

16h50

Wrap-up, Ludovic Thilly, Chair, CG Executive Board

More about the speaker

Ludovic Thilly

Chair, Coimbra Group Executive Board

17h00

Closing drink

SATURDAY, 23 OCTOBER 2021

9h15

Transfer by minibus, departure from the Jade Hotel (55 rue de Rothschild, 12o1 Genève).

10h00-11h30

Visit of the Bodmer Foundation, a collection of rare books and manuscripts – OPTIONAL (by registration)

Speakers and participants

Rectors, Vice-Rectors and Representatives of the Coimbra Group

Stéphane Berthet, Vice-Rector, University of Geneva, Switzerland

Piia Björn, Vice-Rector, University of Turku, Finland

João Nuno Calvão da Silva, Vice-Rector for External Relations and Alumni, University of Coimbra, Portugal

Claudia Cavadas, Vice-rector for Research, University of Coimbra, Portugal

Lénárd Darázs, Vice-Rector for General Affairs, Eötvös Loránd University Hungary

Doris Fischer, Vice-President for Internationalization and Alumni, University of Würzburg, Germany

Yves Flückiger, Rector, University of Geneva, Switzerland

Emmanuelle Gardan, Director, Coimbra Group, Belgium

Claudia Hillinger, Head, International Office Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Deutschland

Dorothy Kelly, Vice Rector for Internationalization University of Granada, Spain

Fiona Killard, Head of Strategic Research Development, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland

Stanislaw Kistryn, Rector's Proxy for Cooperation within Una Europa, Jagiellonian University, Poland

Jukka Kola, Rector, University of Turku, Finland

Vassil Kristjan, Vice-Rector for Research, University of Tartu, Estonia

Peter Lievens, Vice-Rector for International Policy, KU Leuven, Belgium

Dorota Malec, Vice-Rector for Internationalisation, Jagiellonian University, Poland

Ionel Mangalagiu, Vice-Rector for Research, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Romania

Sergei Mikushev, Vice-Rector for Research, Saint Petersburg State University, Russian Federation

Coco Norén, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Uppsala University, Sweden

Mustafa Oral Öncül, Vice-Rector, Istanbul University, Turkey

Anna Quici, Policy Officer, Coimbra Group

Bettina Rockenbach, Vice-prorector for Research and Innovation, University of Cologne, Germany

Lenka Anna Rovná, Vice-Rector, Charles University, Czech Republic

Edita Sužiedėlienė, Vice-Rector and Pro-Rector for Research, Vilnius University, Lithuania

Péter Sziklai, Vice-Rector for Research, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary

Ludovic Thilly, Coimbra Group Chair, University of Poitiers, France

Tudorel Toader, Rector, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Romania

Moira von Wright, Rector, Åbo Akademi University, Finland

Jan Wouters, President, International Policy Council, KU Leuven, Belgium

Speakers

Mille Bøjer

Director, Reos Partners

Maurizio Bona

Senior Advisor, Relations with Parliaments and Science for Policy European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)

Cláudia Cavadas

Vice-Rector for Research, University of Coimbra

Jacques Ducrest

Delegate of the Federal Council for the 2030 Agenda Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Switzerland

Yves Flückiger

Rector, University of Geneva

Nathalie Fontanet

State Counsellor, State of Geneva

Elaine France

Founder, Flow In Action

Paul Ladd

Director, United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD)

Jürg Lauber

Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations (UN) in Geneva Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), Switzerland

Peter Lievens

Vice-Rector International Policy and Interculturality, KU Leuven

Stephan Mergenthaler

Head of Strategic Intelligence, Member of the Executive Committee, World Economic Forum (WEF)

Coco Norén

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Uppsala University

Anna Panagopoulou

Director, European Research Area (ERA) & Innovation, Directorate General Research and Innovation, European Commission

Francesco Pisano

Director, United Nations Library & Archives Geneva

Alexis Roig

CEO, SciTech DiploHub - Barcelona Science and Technology Diplomacy Hub

Nicolas Seidler

Director, Geneva Science Policy Interface (GSPI)

Soumya Swaminathan

Chief Scientist, World Health Organisation (WHO

Ludovic Thilly

Chair, Coimbra Group Executive Board

Tatiana Valovaya

Director-General, United Nations Office at Geneva (UN Geneva)

Participants to the workshop

Mille Bøjer, Reos Partners, Director

Silvia Ecclesia, Graduate institute Geneva, Student of the Master in International Affairs

Sergio Estupiñán, Beekee Box, co-Founder

Elaine France, Flow in Action, Founder

Aravind Ganapathi, Graduate institute Geneva, Student of the Master in Development Studies

Paul Ladd, United Nations Research Institute (UNRISD), Director

Alexis Laffittan, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Partnerships Development & Management, Geneva Office

Stephen Mergenthaler, World Economic Forum (WEF), Head of Strategic Intelligence, Member of the Executive Committee

Lucile Mougeat, Graduate institute Geneva, Student of the Master in Development Studies

Corinne Namblard, CEO of Advice & Co and active member of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) PPP Expert Group

Roberto Paganini, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Programme Specialist at the Crisis Bureau

Francesco Pisano, United Nations Office at Geneva, Director of the United Nations Library & Archives Geneva

Bruno Pozzi, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Director of the Europe Office

Derek Queisser Von Stockalper, Queisser & Cie / Qanalytics, LLC, Founder and Partner

Alexis Roig, SciTech DiploHub Barcelona, Director

Philippe Rudaz, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Economic Affairs Officer at the Division for Investment & Enterprise

Nicolas Seidler, Geneva Science Policy Interface, Director

The Rectors, Vice-Rectors and Representatives of the Coimbra Group participating to the seminar

Cocktail dinner’s Guests

Václav Bálek, Permanent Mission of the Czech Republic to the UN, Ambassador

Zbigniew Czech, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Poland to the UN, Ambassador

Simone De Montmollin, Federal Assembly, National councilor

Darius Farman, Foraus - Swiss Forum on Foreign Policy, Co-director of the Geneva Office

Béatrice Ferrari, State of Geneva, Director of the International affairs

Frédérique Guérin, Geneva Science Policy Interface

Barbara Haering, University of Geneva, President of the Strategic Orientation Board

Alexandre Hedjazi, University of Geneva, International Relations & Partnerships Office

Apostolia Karamali, European Commission, Head of the Unit for R&I Actors and Research Careers

Charlotte Lindberg Warakaulle, European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Director for International Relations

Rui Macieira, Permanent Mission of Portugal to the UN, Ambassador

Noria Mezlef, University of Geneva, Head of International Relations & Partnerships Office

Maxime Stauffer, Geneva Science Policy Interface

Samir Yeddes, Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the UN, First Secretary

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Venues

The Bodmer Foundation

Founder of the Bibliotheca Bodmeriana, Martin Bodmer (Zurich, 1899 – Geneva, 1971) put together one of the most important private collections in the world of papyri, manuscripts, incunabula, and rare books, including a Gutenberg Bible, Shakespeare in Folios, manuscripts by Rousseau, Mozart, Proust, and many others. The Foundation’s site, overlooking Lake Geneva, houses approximately 150,000 items from 80 different cultures reflecting three thousand years of human civilization on Earth.
19 route Martin-Bodmer, 1223 Cologny, Geneva

International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum

International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum The Museum of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is located next to the organisation’s headquarters. The ICRC was founded in 1863 and bases its work on the Geneva Conventions of 1949. It is now one of the global key players in humanitarian action. The permanent exhibition allows the public to explore three major challenges in today’s world: Defending Human Dignity, Restoring Family, Reducing Natural Risks.
17 avenue de la Paix

Palais des Nations

The United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) is the second largest UN centre after the UN headquarters in New York. Through partnerships between governments, civil society, research, academia and other international actors, UNOG works hard to achieve the SDGs by the year 2030. The Palais des Nations was built between 1929 and 1938 to serve as the headquarters of the League of Nations. It is located in the beautiful Ariana Park, with an outstanding view of Lake Geneva.
Pregny Gate (visitors entrance) is situated 14a avenue de la Paix.
Map of Palais des Nations

The UN Library & Archives Geneva

This historic institution has pioneered research and international understanding since its founding in 1919 as the Library of the League of Nations. In the library’s sky-lit reading rooms, sift through rich historical texts, articles, archives and UN resources, and delve into the online resources accessible on site to the international community and researchers. The Library and Archives are located in Building B of the Palais des Nations. To get to the Library.

Le Vieux-Bois Restaurant

This Gastronomic restaurant is part of the Hotel management School, by being the initiation restaurant for students. Ideally located in the green setting of Ariana Park, the Vieux-Bois restaurant is next to the Palais des Nations.
12 avenue de la Paix

Useful documents and Links

About the UN

The essentiel UN (Fast facts, Story, Videos, Explorations and Quizzes)
UN principal organs

About the SDGs

Description
Learn more about the 17 SDGs

About the UN Library & Archives Geneva

Practical Information

Getting around in Geneva

The use of public transports is recommended.
-> Airport-Cornavin Station: 7 min. by train (free ticket before exit gate)
The hotel reception will provide you with a free public transport card (bus+train+tram+yellow boats).
Consult the website of the public transportation (TPG).
For any other tourist information, see the website: Visit Geneva

Access to the Palais des Nations

The Pregny Gate (14a avenue de la Paix) is the entrance for the visitors. It is situated 2 min. walking distance from "Appia" bus stop and 10 min. from Place des Nations.
->"Place des Nations" stop: Tramway 15, Bus 5 (airport), 8, 11, 22, 28 (airport), V, F, Z
->“Appia” stop: Bus 8, 28 (airport), V, Z

Security check and accreditation

Any person entering the Palais des Nations must first register with the Security and Safety Service, which will issue identity badges upon arrival. Do not forget to bring your ID card (if from Schengen area) and/or passport, it is mandatory to get in. Consult the Practical guide of the United Nations Office at Geneva.

The UN Library

The library is open from 8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. Free wireless Internet connection in all reading rooms allows users to access many of the Library’s subscription databases on their own laptops and handheld devices. Follow the instructions to get there.

Sanitary conditions

A Covid pass will be requested for the seminar, the cocktail dinner and the museums (ICRC museum, The Bodmer Foundation). If you need to be tested during your stay, check Covid19, where can one be tested in Geneva

Food and beverages

Due to sanitary regulations, coffee/tea and drinks cannot be served in the library premises. We apologize for this situation and thank you for your understanding.

Rectorat Rectorat