Published on 12 September 2025

International Organisations

Certain international Organisations of which Switzerland is a Member debate issues falling within the competence of the FSIO in the framework of committees or working groups. In these areas, they also develop normative instruments, both binding and non-binding. The main Organisations concerned are the Council of Europe (CoE), the United Nations (UN), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the International Social Security Association (ISSA).

Council of Europe (CoE)

Europe (CoE)

The CoE was founded in 1949, and Switzerland has been a member since 1963. Its aim is to achieve a greater unity between its Members for the purpose of safeguarding and realising the ideals and principles which are their common heritage and facilitating their economic and social progress. The FSIO is active in the following committees:
  • Steering Committee for the Rights of the Child (CDENF), the intergovernmental body that coordinates the CoE actions on children’s rights. It proposes tools to protect and promote these rights.
  • European Steering Committee for Youth (CDEJ), the counterpart of the CDENF for youth, and Joint Council on Youth (CMJ), a co-decision body that brings together the CDEJ and the Advisory Council on Youth (CCJ). The CCJ is made up of 30 representatives from youth non-governmental organisations.
  • Governmental Committee of the European Social Charter and the European Code of Social Security (GC), particularly active in the procedure for monitoring the application by the States parties of the European Code of Social Security, ratified by Switzerland in 1977.

United Nations (UNO)

(UNO)

Established in 1945, the UN primary purpose is to promote and encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all. This mission guides the Organisation’s normative work. Switzerland has been a member of the UN since 2002. The FSIO mainly follows the work of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD), whose main responsibility is to advise the UN on social development issues by promoting social policies that support the UN overall development goals, particularly with regard to poverty eradication and social integration.

International Labour Organization (ILO)

(ILO)

The ILO was established in 1919, with Switzerland being among its founding Members. In accordance with its mandate, the ILO strives to promote social justice and ensure the upholding of human rights in the world of work. The FSIO primarily takes part in the annual International Labour Conference (ILC) when topics within its competence are discussed.

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

(OECD)

The OECD was founded in 1961 and Switzerland has been a Member since its creation. It provides its Members with the opportunity to compare their economic and social policies in order to identify solutions to common challenges and to better assess the impact of their actions at both the national and international levels. The FSIO is represented in the following bodies:
  • Employment, Labour and Social Affairs Committee (ELSAC), which enables member countries to share experiences, collect and publish comparable data, and encourage cooperation between member countries in the areas of employment, social policy and migration. The FSIO also attends one of the committee's three subsidiary bodies, the Working Party on Social Policy (WPSP).
  • Working Party on Insurance and Pensions (WPIP), a subsidiary body of the Committee on Financial Markets, which aims to promote fair, efficient, open and sound insurance and pensions systems, that are market-oriented and based on high levels of transparency, confidence and integrity.

International Social Security Association (ISSA)

(ISSA)

The ISSA, founded in 1927, brings together institutions that administer one or more branches of social security at the national level. Its objective is to cooperate, at the international level, in the promotion and development of social security throughout the world, primarily through its technical and administrative improvement. The FSIO is a member of the ISSA and is represented in its governing body, the Bureau.