Geneva, Switzerland, is not a large city. It has fewer than 200,000 people. But it is one of the most important cities in the world. On April 7, 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) was founded in Geneva. The WHO works to fight diseases, improve nutrition, and keep people healthy in every country. Geneva was chosen partly because Switzerland is a neutral country. It does not take sides in wars. This makes other countries feel safe meeting there. Geneva sits at the western tip of Lake Geneva, one of the largest lakes in Europe. The French Alps rise just across the border. The city is surrounded by France on three sides, making it almost like an island of Switzerland inside French territory. This unusual geography helped Geneva become a meeting place for people from different countries. Today, Geneva is home to more than 30 international organizations. The United Nations has a major office there. The Red Cross was founded there in 1863. Scientists at CERN, a research center just outside the city, study the tiniest particles in the universe. For a small city, Geneva has an outsized role in world affairs.