The Human Rights Room
Barceló's hundred-colour dripping ceiling — diplomacy's most famous roof.
Cancillería Ecuador — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France — CC BY 2.0 · Agence Rol. Agence photographique (commanditaire) — Public domain · Benoît Prieur — CC0
Book online the moment travel firms (windows open a month out and fill), favour Tuesday–Thursday clear of September summits — and carry the passport itself, not a photo. Against sudden cancellations the fallback stands ready: the neighbouring Red Cross Museum, among Europe's most powerful.
Handicap International raised it in 1997 to press the mine-ban treaty's signing: a giant chair whole but for one torn leg — life continuing after amputation, the absence testifying. Meant for months, the world refused its removal — among the most successful political sculptures ever.
The Red Cross Museum adjoins (a deeply affecting hour), the Ariana ceramics museum shares the park, and WTO and WHO gates serve enthusiasts — 'International Geneva' is a whole quarter, closed by a tram returning you lakeside in fifteen minutes.
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In the Ariana park above the lake spreads the Palais des Nations — built for the League of Nations in 1936 and inherited by the UN: its second seat after New York and its busiest in meetings, host to Geneva's eternal negotiations from human rights to war truces. Guided tours (passport required) enter the history-making halls: the great Assembly Hall, and the Human Rights Room under Miquel Barceló's dripping-colour ceiling — Spain's famous gift — along corridors of member nations' presents. The guides are actual UN staff with conference tales. Before the gate stands the Broken Chair on its severed leg — the landmine victims' monument facing the hundred and ninety-three member flags — international Geneva's icon, seen free even without a tour.
Barceló's hundred-colour dripping ceiling — diplomacy's most famous roof.
Twelve metres on a severed leg — the landmine cry facing the flags.
The nations' seats where the news-opening speeches are made.
Free peacocks roam the park — an old Japanese gift, multiplied.
Avenue de la Paix 14, 1211 Geneva