What Do We Do?
Pakistan at the United Nations in Geneva
Soon after gaining independence, Pakistan joined the United Nations on September 30, 1947. Pakistan formally opened a resident Permanent Mission to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva in September 1966. Pakistan has always been an ardent advocate for the United Nations primacy in international affairs.
Pakistan has been an active participant and contributor to multilateral deliberations on a wide range of subjects including human rights, humanitarian affairs, sustainable development, environment and climate change, and international law.
Pakistan remains committed to a world in which upholding human dignity, freedoms, rights is the highest value. Pakistan envisages a world which is free of want, hunger and deprivation. Pakistan envisions a world where rule of law and fair play govern the affairs of human beings and where inequality, oppression and war has no place.
What do we do?
Geneva hosts a large number of UN bodies and specialized agencies i.e. the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Conference on Disarmament (CD), UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), among others.
A number of international organizations are also based in this city. These include the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Labour Organization (ILO), International Organization for Migration (IOM), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
Some non-UN international organizations such as the World Economic Forum (WEF), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) are also headquartered in Geneva.
The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), the Geneva Center for Security Policy, the World Economic Forum.
The Mission works as a focal point between Departments in Pakistan and coordinates with these organizations and bodies.
Pakistan Mission in Geneva is accredited to the UN bodies, its specialized agencies and other international organizations.
Pakistan believes that the United Nations and other international organizations play a key role in resolving global problems, developing norms, rules and international law. Accordingly, Pakistan Mission works closely with and contributes to the work of these organizations to advance security, human rights, economic development, social well-being and environmental protection throughout the world.
This Mission represents Pakistan in these organizations to promote and safeguard Pakistan’s interests through active diplomatic engagement. In doing so, the Mission articulates Pakistan’s perspective, positions and priorities: negotiates, advocates and works with other countries to help evolve solutions to global challenges.
Geneva is also home to a vibrant Pakistani community. While Pakistan Embassy in Berne provides consular and visa services, social and cultural outreach with Pakistani expatriates in Geneva is one of the priorities of this Mission.
Other specialized agencies and organizations in Geneva
The Mission engages with several specialized agencies based in Geneva including the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the Inter-Parliamentary Union, United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) and the World Economic Forum.
The Mission works as a focal point between Departments in Pakistan and coordinates with these organizations and bodies.