Recent years have seen worrying European and global backsliding of democracy and respect for human rights. As democratic spaces are shrinking, defending democracy and fundamental human rights is now more important than ever before. Democracy and human rights are two sides of the same coin, fundamentally interlinked and interdependent:
“There cannot be a democracy without freedom of expression, assembly and many other rights, just as there cannot be effective protection of human rights without democratic institutions entrusted with the effective realisation of all rights”, Morten Kjaerum, Director of the Raoul Wallenberg Institute.
As a global society, we now stand at a crossroads. Either we let go of the profound democratic gains developed from focused efforts over the past 30 years, or we up-scale and up-smart the defence of our fundamental rights and freedoms.
At RWI, we believe the only alternative is to insist on the core values that protect the dignity of the individual. These values, which are globally rooted, have a long history of creating resilient societies. Our niche is to increase knowledge about human rights and their implementation in the environment where people live.
“Our work starts where Amnesty’s and Human Rights Watch’s work ends. They point out the human rights issues”, says Morten Kjaerum. “We analyse what can be done to change the situation and work with those who have the power to change.”
If you believe that democracy is worth promoting, stand with RWI. Grant your support to ensure a more peaceful world and contribute to protecting democracy.
The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency
The International Legal Assistance Consortium
The Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation
Nordic Council of Ministers
Vinnova Sweden's Innovation Agency
Fulbright Sweden
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Vinge Law Firm
Are you interested in supporting the RWI? Do you wish to know more about how? Or, do you wish to know more about our cases for support?
Please reach out to:
Peter Lundberg
Peter Lundberg is an experienced senior manager within the humanitarian and development system, with a demonstrated history of working in complex humanitarian settings, conflict environments, development, and human rights contexts. He is dedicated to the realization of 2030 Agenda, peace-building, dialogue, and mediation. Mr. Lundberg brings 20 years of experience heading large-scale, and multifaceted teams in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and in Asia.
Mr. Lundberg was previously the designated representative of the UN Secretary-General to Montenegro, where he led the work of the UN together with 18 UN agencies, funds, and programs in close partnership with the Government of Montenegro, driving and supporting the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and human rights. Mr. Lundberg has a strong community and social services professional background and is skilled in intercultural communication. His work experience includes areas such as international humanitarian and human rights law, minority rights, disability rights, descent work, public administration, gender equality, economic cooperation, rule of law and good governance, environment, conflict management, peacebuilding, and mediation. Mr. Lundberg also has in-depth knowledge of compliance issues within the development system, which includes heading forensic audit operations in often complex environments.
Mr. Lundberg has 27 years of experience in diplomatic, humanitarian, human rights, and public administration with the UN, the foreign service, and through the Red Cross Movement. He served as UN Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator (and as Humanitarian Coordinator ai) in Nigeria from 2016 to early 2018.
Mr. Lundberg has served as Head of Regional Development Cooperation for the Middle East and North Africa region at the Embassy of Sweden in Amman, Jordan, and before that as Special Political Advisor on the Lake Chad Crisis at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 2018.
Before joining RWI, he held various leadership positions with the Swedish International Development Agency, including as Director for Humanitarian Assistance. Mr. Lundberg has served the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) as External Relations Manager in Malaysia, Head of Delegation in Zimbabwe. He also served as Deputy Consul General for Sweden in Jerusalem 2010 to 2013.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in political geography, international law, human rights law from Uppsala University, and from Harvard University, where he completed a one-year Executive Leadership Training program in 2021-2022.