External relations, policy & cooperation programme

Silvia Cattaneo joined the GICHD in September 2019. As Senior Advisor in the External Relations, Policy and Cooperation Programmes division, she is responsible for furthering and disseminating the GICHD’s policy work and providing advice to both the GICHD and its partners on policy and International Humanitarian Law issues. Silvia is the focal point for the Centre’s contributions to IHL conventions (APMBC, CCM and CCW) and to multilateral discussions on conventional weapons and ammunition, including on the issue of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. She is also tasked with identifying, promoting and supporting opportunities for cooperation with partners active in sectors other than explosive ordnance risk reduction, and promoting the role of the GICHD as a thought leader.

Prior to joining the GICHD, Silvia worked as Attaché for Disarmament Affairs at the Italian Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva. Previously, she was the Coordinator of the Geneva Forum, working to facilitate dialogue among States, international and civil society organizations on disarmament issues and Adjunct Professor at the International University in Geneva, where she taught courses on international security and diplomacy and conflict resolution. Earlier on, she worked as researcher/consultant for the Small Arms Survey and other organizations, including Amnesty International. Silvia holds a Master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Florence, a Master’s degree and a PhD in International Relations from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (Geneva).

• Organisation Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD)
• Division External relations, policy & cooperation programme
• Unit IHL and Policy
• E-mail s.cattaneo(at)gichd.org
• Working Languages English, Italian, French