Despite a complex global landscape marked by geopolitical challenges and instability, RWI’s work in 2023 made significant strides in advancing respect for human rights and international humanitarian law in many of the countries and contexts where we operate around the world.
Among several key achievements, we are particularly proud to have expanded our reach by opening a new country office in Armenia last year, enabling us to further deepen our human rights work in the Southern Caucasus. The work in Armenia focuses on supporting justice sector reform, promoting human rights education and research at academic institutions, and strengthening the national human rights institution. Through forging strong partnerships, we have sought to further create an enabling environment to advance understanding, application and enjoyment of human rights in the country.
Furthermore, we, have deepen our collaboration with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and with other key partners within the multilateral system, in 2023 we helped to further mobilise a growing global movement against corruption stressing an integrated and holistic approach that promotes prevention and addresses the relationship between corruption and human rights. This work is essential for building just, inclusive and resilient societies.
In 2023, RWI’s commitment to addressing the human rights dimensions of climate change and disaster risk management also gained additional momentum. Our regional Asia-Pacific programme has been at the forefront of this work, driving research and increasingly focusing on just transitions to climate–resilient and nature-positive societies grounded in human rights.
We were also pleased to be able to have started a new programme aiming to build knowledge and bridge capacities, between different networks and communities of practice, regarding China and in relation to climate justice and energy transitions, in view of China’s growing role in the world.
We are moreover delighted that we could take steps during the year to significantly expand our engagement regarding Afghanistan and increase the funding support for this essential human rights work, which seeks to contribute to better-informed strategies and initiatives to promote and protect human rights in that country.
With a changing donor landscape, we are grateful for the continued support from allour funding partners. Their commitment to our work in 2023 is a further testament ofthe impact of our efforts. We are also grateful for the collaboration with all partners in the countries and regions where we operate and without whom we would not have been able to achieve the results we did in 2023.
As we are already half-way through 2024, we are excited about the opportunities gained last year, as we try to build upon our successes and expand our work further. The evaluations of many of our programmes in Africa and Asia during 2023 and early 2024 provided valuable insights in this respect, which is already informing our future strategies.
I would like to conclude by expressing my sincere gratitude to the dedicated RWI staff, whose hard work and passion make our mission possible. Let me also acknowledge the leadership and many contributions of my predecessor Morten Kjaerum, whose position I assumed on 1 February 2024.
I also again want to thank our generous donors and partners, as well as our Board of Trustees, for their unwavering support. Together, we are creating a positive impact on the world.
Peter Lundberg RWI Executive Director Lund, 14 August 2024