Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
Address
Freiburgstrasse 130
3003 Bern
http://www.sdc.admin.ch/
Contact person
Information, telephone switchboard:
N. N.
(41) 31 322 34 75
info at deza dot admin dot ch
Further contacts
Governance Division
(41) 31 32 23330
governance at deza dot admin dot ch
Operating range
- International
Relevant duties in the context of human rights
- A priority objective of Swiss development cooperation is to alleviate poverty by providing help for self-help. In this context, the fostering of human rights is at one and the same time both an element and a target of its development activities. Indeed, the absolute respect for human rights is a goal of the unfolding development process which itself, as it unfolds, can make a contribution to enhancing the respect for human rights. Moreover, a pre-condition for any development to take place is the minimal protection of human rights.
- For the SDC, respect for human rights is also an integral part of good governance, and is hence a part of the SDC
- In addition to the bilateral operations conducted with its partner countries, the SDC
- The Governance Division of the SDC
Main work in the human rights field
- Lobbying / Networking / Human rights policies
Protection of vulnerable groups
- Poor, Unemployed
- Women
- Cultural, religious, linguistic minorities
Issues our organisation works on
- Development cooperation / governance
- Minority rights / cultural rights
- Right to food
- Social rights / social security / social policiy
Current projects with human rights focus
On the basis of its experience with programmes for combating poverty and promoting good governance, SDC has updated its guidelines on human rights and development cooperation (link) and adopted a new policy on human rights as of the end of February. The new SDC's Human Rights Policy: Towards a Life in Dignity - Realising Rights for the Poor (pdf, 150 KB) – aims to foster the rights of the world
- New SDC policy on human rights: Towards a Life in Dignity – Realising the Rights of the Poor!
- On the basis of its experience with programmes for combating poverty and promoting good governance, SDC has updated its guidelines on human rights and development cooperation (link) and adopted a new policy on human rights as of the end of February. The new SDC's Human Rights Policy: Towards a Life in Dignity - Realising Rights for the Poor (pdf, 150 KB) – aims to foster the rights of the world
Publications on human rights issues
- Towards a Life in Dignity - Realising Rights for the Poor (pdf, 150 KB)
- SDC's Human Rights and Rule of Law Guidance Documents: Influence, Effectiveness and Relevance within SDC (Evaluation 2004/1, pdf,141 p./ 800KB)
- Development Cooperation and the Fostering of Human Rights (1998)
- The Rule of Law-concept: significance in Development cooperation (1998)
- Various SDC strategy papers can be ordered free of charge at: