Multilateral Dialogue KAS Geneva

We are proud to announce that on 20 May, the eve of Global Accessibility Awareness Day ( ), we launched our latest report on the rights of persons with and the engagement of the system on this critical issue in Geneva. During a breakfast discussion, we had the pleasure to look into the main findings of the report with various missions, UN representatives and civil society.

What became evident is that there is a clear need to move decisively from human rights commitments to their implementation, backed by stronger monitoring and follow-up. Although the case studies featured show that the human rights mechanisms can drive real progress in advancing the rights of persons with disabilities - especially where there is the political will to do so and engagement with OPDs, NMIRFs or UN agencies - their impact must be matched by systematic tracking and sustained engagement at country level.

👉 Out now: "Ensuring Dignity and Realising Rights - Measuring the Impact of the United Nations Human Rights System on the enjoyment of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities", https://lnkd.in/eyDj6Qx9

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The upcoming WTO General Council will meet on 6–7 May and the agenda is shaped by what didn't get finished at the 14th Ministerial Conference ( ) which took place last month in Yaoundé.

The packed agenda (including E-Commerce moratorium, agricultural subsidies, and the WTO reforms) saw intense negotiations around the clock. Yet consensus on a ministerial declaration ultimately proved elusive.

So what was agreed, what wasn't, and what does it mean for the weeks ahead?

📄 Our latest unpacks the key MC14 outcomes — and sets the scene for what comes next in Geneva.

👉 Read it here: https://www.kas.de/en/web/multilateraler-dialog-genf/geneva-telegram/detail/-/content/die-wichtigsten-ergebnisse-der-14-wto-ministerkonferenz

A warm welcome to join the 13th Adenauer Conference on Germany’s Role in International Politics, A World in Turmoil: Europe’s Moment 🇪🇺 with Foreign Minister H.E. Johann Wadephul

📅 Date: May 6, 2026
🕑 Time: 2pm
📽️ Live via: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W54cOabPkq4

At a time of growing geopolitical tensions, the 13th Adenauer Conference will address key issues relating to German foreign policy, Europe’s capacity to act, and strategic partnerships. In this anniversary year marking the 150th anniversary of Konrad Adenauer’s birth, the focus will be on Europe’s independence and resilience. Following a speech by Foreign Minister Dr Johann Wadephul, a panel will examine how German foreign policy can contribute to a Europe that is capable of defending itself and is sovereign.

, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung

onlinekas 13th Adenauer Conference on the Role of Germany in International Politics

WHO Member States are reconvening in this week to resume the sixth session of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Annex to the World Health Organization (WHO) 🦠.

As the final scheduled meeting before , the coming days will determine whether Member States can move towards a workable compromise. High-stakes negotiations now revolve around how to reconcile demands for mandatory benefit-sharing with concerns about preserving the agility and innovation needed to develop pandemic countermeasures. A newly proposed hybrid approach may offer a way through this current impasse.

Our latest Geneva Telegram assesses the state of the negotiations ahead of this week and situates the main lines of political contention 👇

https://www.kas.de/en/web/multilateraler-dialog-genf/geneva-telegram/detail/-/content/pabs-annex-zum-who-pandemieabkommen-die-6-sitzung-der-zwischenstaatlichen-arbeitsgruppe-maerz-2026

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PABS Annex to the WHO Pandemic Agreement: The Sixth Meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group in March 2026 Geneva Telegram

🌍 From 5-7 April, the Summit in brings together leaders, scientists, international organisations and civil society to advance coordinated, science-based action for human, animal, plant and ecosystem health.

A major priority: antimicrobial resistance (AMR). At a time of growing cross-border health threats, stronger surveillance, prevention and multisectoral cooperation are essential. With the World Health Organization assuming the Chair of the Quadripartite on 8 April 2026, the Summit is a key moment to turn political commitment into concrete One Health action. 🧬💊

Our recent 🗺️ Map of the Month on AMR shows the prevalence of AMR in the different WHO regions 👇

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🌍 World Health Day 2026: Together for Health. Stand with Science.

celebrates the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948. It reminds us of WHO’s core mandate as a norm and standard-setting multilateral organization guided by science and entrusted with international coordination and cooperation in global health.

Today, the 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization - WTO has officially kicked off.

Ministers from across the world are gathering in Yaoundé, Cameroon 🇨🇲 to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the multilateral trading system and to take action on the future work of the WTO.

Our latest map illustrates some of the draft ministerial declarations and proposals on . In line with the outcomes of the past Ministerial Conference in 2024 in Abu Dhabi, the outcome of the negotiations will determine the fate of the renewal of the “practice of not imposing customs duties on electronic transmissions” (so-called ‘E-Commerce Moratorium) and whether it could in fact be made permanent.

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https://www.kas.de/en/web/multilateraler-dialog-genf/map-of-the-month/detail/-/content/beschlussentwuerfe-zu-e-commerce-im-vorfeld-der-14-wto-ministerkonferenz

During the 61st session of the UN , which runs until next week, a Joint Statement of the „Friends of Human Rights “ was once again presented, in which the liquidity crisis has been addressed as well. In it, the supporters call for adequate, predictable and sustainable funding for the pillar of the .

👇https://www.kas.de/en/web/multilateraler-dialog-genf/map-of-the-month/detail/-/content/unterstuetzer-multilateraler-zusammenarbeit-zu-menschenrechten-58-und-61-un-menschenrechtsrat

🗺️ Our new Maps of the Month March are out!

💵 🇺🇳 We provide an overview of the current situation regarding the United Nations’ regular budget. Already by the end of January, UN Secretary General Guterres had warned that the UN may risk financial collapse. Which member states have paid their mandatory assessed contributions for 2026 in full and on time, and what percentage of the total budget do their contributions represent? We also take a look at the past calendar year and highlight which states paid their contributions late or not at all, thereby further contributing to the United Nations’ liquidity crisis.

👇 Explore more here: https://www.kas.de/en/web/multilateraler-dialog-genf/map-of-the-month/detail/-/content/pflichtbeitraege-fuer-regulaeren-haushalt-der-vereinten-nationen-in-2025-und-2026

Join the European Latin America Forum (ELAF) 2026, organised by UAS Grisons, connosco e.V. and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Geneva Office on 19 March 2026 at 15:00 (CET). 😊
This online event focuses on the topic “Advancing Multilateral (Economic) Collaboration between Europe and Latin America in a Shifting Global Order”. Take the opportunity to exchange ideas with like-minded participants and learn from experts. 💡
Register now for free and secure your spot! 👉 https://www.fhgr.ch/elaf