Switzerland concludes two new status agreements with organisations active in International Geneva

Ambassador Franz Xaver Perrez, Director of the Directorate of International Law (DIL) of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), signed two agreements on privileges and immunities in Bern on 18 December 2025 with Julian Smith, President of the IFFEd Foundation Board, and Samuel Emonet, Executive Director of JRR. The Federal Council approved the two agreements, which are based on the Host State Act, at its meeting on 12 December 2025.

IFFEd emerged in 2015 from the work of the Education Commission, which was chaired by British ex-prime minister Gordon Brown and brought together the heads of various states and governments, including Norway, Chile, Indonesia and Malawi. IFFEd was established in Geneva as a Swiss foundation in 2023. IFFEd uses its innovative funding mechanism to provide inclusive, equitable and quality education for marginalised children and youth in lower-middle-income countries.

JRR was created in 2011 by a group of states, including Switzerland, as a non-profit association. It has become one of the few entities at the international level capable of rapidly deploying experts to investigate international crimes and serious human rights violations. To date, JRR has dispatched over 800 experts to conflict-affected countries in support of judicial investigations and transitional justice initiatives, in particular in cooperation with the United Nations and national and international tribunals.

The conclusion of these two agreements on privileges and immunities contributes to the sustainable establishment of IFFEd and JRR in International Geneva, enabling them to fulfil their important mission efficiently and independently within an internationally recognised framework. For its part, International Geneva strengthens its role as a global centre for peace, justice and human rights.