Headquartered on the shore of Lake Geneva in Geneva, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) is one of the most well-recognised international organisations in the world to the likes of the World Health Organisation and the United Nations, which are both in the neighbouring area.
Once a year, the WTO selects one Sunday in June to open its doors to all as a way to thank the people of Geneva for hosting them. Programmes include guided tours throughout the day in three languages, a selection of international cuisine, and games for kids. It also takes this opportunity to recruit graduating students and poach roughly-qualified staff members from other international organisations.
The long monolithic building that reminded me of Berlin’s former Air Ministry Building was actually originally built for the International Labor Organisation. That explains the wall paintings with industrial motifs and a wall made of ceramic wall tiles with the Treaty of Versailles in four different languages that guarantees certain conditions for workers.
As I wasn’t there to look for a job I just had fun learning about the history of the building. If you go, have fun and eat from the Malaysian food stall.
