The Swiss Network for International Studies (SNIS) will hold its Annual Conference on 11th October 2011 in Geneva. The one-day event, co-organised by the Graduate Institute (Program on Gender and Global Change) and the University of Geneva (Institute for Gender Studies), addresses the topic of gender and the global care economy in the context of globalization and migration.

The keynote address will be delivered by Saskia Sassen, Robert S. Lynd Professor of Sociology at Columbia University who will introduce the topic and contextualise the phenomenon of female care workers in the context of global reorganisation of territories, authorities and rights.

In a first panel, academics will address the topic from the global view of transnational labour markets and ensuing migratory effects.

In a second panel, representatives of International and Non-Governmental Organizations will explore the global care economy from a local and a policy point of view – particularly in the light of the recent ILO convention on on domestic workers.

The event is also to celebrate the winners of the 2011 International Geneva Award. Three prizes are awarded for articles in international studies which are deemed particularly relevant for International Organisations.

To view the full programme.

The Swiss Network for International Studies (SNIS) promotes academic research on phenomena that transcend traditional nation-state boundaries. The SNIS strongly encourages pluri-disciplinary research and fosters collaboration between Swiss organisations of higher education, international and non-governmental organisations. With its headquarters in Geneva, the SNIS connects International Geneva to Switzerland and Switzerland to Geneva thus binding academics, practitioners and civil society into a truly Swiss Network. Overall, the SNIS bridges the gap between academic analysis and international practice, and helps to increase the visibility of international studies both in Switzerland and abroad.