Commitment to peace

Switzerland's commitment to peace is one of the pillars of its foreign policy. It takes a number of different forms: mediation, the sending of humanitarian aid, the seconding of the civil and military experts who, depending on their profile, are responsible for security missions. 

Reform

Reform is the cornerstone of stabilisation in a conflict region. Reform of the civil sector of security has become an important element of peace promotion efforts by Switzerland. Local police and border police play a key role in the resolution of conflicts by providing a safe and stable framework for their fellow citizens, one that is free of corruption and abuse. 

Switzerland’s aim is to promote human rights within local security forces. This is why the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), in partnership with the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS), seconds police officers, border police and customs specialists who take part in international peace promotion operations.

Recruitment and Candidature

This contingent of 30 specialists, men and women, is part of the Swiss expert pool for civilian peace promotion (PEP). Their missions mainly concern the Balkans and sub-Saharan Africa. 

They are experts in public security and they assist, train and accompany police and border police services during the reconstruction phase that generally follows conflicts. In certain cases the international peace promotion force must itself perform tasks relating to the application of laws. The Swiss nationals who participate are then required to intervene directly and to carry out investigations in the framework of an international mandate.