Country Flag of Switzerland Map of Switzerland, Courtesy of WorldAtlas.com

Local time in Bern:


Facts and Figures

arrow Official Name Switzerland

arrow Capital City Bern

arrow Languages German (official) 63.7%, French (official) 19.2%, Italian (official) 7.6%, Romansch (official) 0.6%, other 8.9%.

arrow Official Currency Swiss franc (CHF)

arrow Ethnic Groups German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6%

arrow Religions Roman Catholic 46.1%, Protestant 40%, other 5%, none 8.9% (1990).

arrow Population 7,318,638 (July 2003 est.)

arrow Land Area 39,770 sq km (15,355 sq miles)

History

Switzerland's independence and neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers, and Switzerland was not involved in either of the two World Wars. The political and economic integration of Europe over the past half century, as well as Switzerland's role in many UN and international organizations, has strengthened Switzerland's ties with its neighbors. However, the country did not officially become a UN member until 2002. Switzerland remains active in many UN and international organizations, but retains a strong commitment to neutrality.

UNAIDS Epidemiological
Fact Sheets

[English]

Global Surveillance of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is a joint effort of WHO and UNAIDS. The UNAIDS/WHO Working Group on Global HIV/AIDS and STI Surveillance, initiated in November 1996, guides respective activities. The primary objective of the working group is to strengthen national, regional and global structures and networks for improved monitoring and surveillance of HIV/AIDS and STIs. For this purpose, the working group collaborates closely with national AIDS programmes and a number of national and international experts and institutions. The goal of this collaboration is to compile the best information available and to improve the quality of data needed for informed decision-making and planning at national, regional and global levels. The Epidemiological Fact Sheets are one of the products of this close and fruitful collaboration across the globe.

Web sites

U.S. Government Agencies

US Department of State - Travel Advisory
Travel Warnings are issued when the State Department decides, based on all relevant information, to recommend that Americans avoid travel to a certain country. Countries where avoidance of travel is recommended will have Travel Warnings as well as Consular Information Sheets.

World Fact Book
The Factbook was created as an annual summary and update to the encyclopedic NIS studies. The first classified Factbook was published in August 1962, and the first unclassified version was published in June 1971. The 1975 Factbook was the first to be made available to the public with sales through the US Government Printing Office (GPO).

Non-Governmental Organizations

The Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance (EAA)
At present, more than 85 churches and church-related organizations have joined the Alliance and bring a constituency to this common work of advocacy of more than 100 million people of faith worldwide. Alliance participants come from every region of the globe, big and small - among them the World Council of Churches and The Lutheran World Federation, the YMCA and YWCA, Franciscans International and the All Africa Council of Churches, the Presbyterian Church of Korea and CIDSE, the Church of Sweden and the Tonga Human Rights and Democracy Movement.

International AIDS Society
By convening the world's largest meetings on HIV/AIDS, the IAS provides critical platforms for presenting new research, sharing best practices and advancing the fight against AIDS. By promoting dialogue, education and networking, the IAS helps close gaps in knowledge and expertise at every level of the response. And by providing support services to our members, we help them do what they do best: advancing the state of the art and expanding access to HIV prevention, treatment and impact mitigation.

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Switzerland

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