By: Jennifer Jun, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Communication
The Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (RWI), together with Lund University, the Anna Lindh Memorial Fund, and the Association of Foreign Affairs (UPF Lund), will host the 2025 Anna Lindh Lecture on Thursday, 13 November 2025 in Lund University’s Aula.
This year’s lecture will be delivered by Ms. Hadja Lahbib, European Commissioner for Equality; Preparedness and Crisis Management, on the theme:
Commissioner Lahbib’s visit to Lund will include a high-level expert roundtable at RWI prior to the lecture, where she will engage with scholars, practitioners, and policy experts on the current state and future of international humanitarian law (IHL). The roundtable will provide a platform for in-depth discussion on how to promote compliance and accountability in the context of contemporary armed conflicts and global instability.
In her public lecture, Commissioner Lahbib will address the growing challenges to international humanitarian law in an era marked by geopolitical division and the erosion of global norms. Drawing on her experience as a journalist, diplomat, and European policymaker, she will explore how international partnerships and institutions can work to restore respect for humanitarian principles and strengthen the rules-based international order.
Hadja Lahbib is responsible for promoting equality and inclusion across the European Union and also leads the EU’s work on preparedness and crisis management, driving efforts to strengthen Europe’s collective capacity to anticipate and respond to crises both within its borders and globally. She plays a central role in shaping and overseeing the EU’s humanitarian action worldwide. Working closely with the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO), she sets the strategic direction for the Union’s humanitarian policy and ensures that EU assistance is principled, needs-based and in full respect of international humanitarian law.
Before joining the European Commission, Ms Lahbib served as Belgium’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs, Foreign Trade and the Federal Cultural Institutions (2022–2024). She previously had a distinguished career at Belgium’s French-speaking public broadcaster RTBF (1993–2022) as a journalist, news anchor, and documentary film-maker. Beyond her political and media work, Ms Lahbib co-led Brussels 2030, preparing the city’s candidacy for the European Capital of Culture. She holds a degree in Journalism and Communication from the Université Libre de Bruxelles, and completed executive training at the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management.
Anna Lindh Lecture Event Details
- Date: Thursday, 13 November 2025
- Time: 18:00 CET
- Venue: Aula, Lund University, Paradisgatan 2, Lund
- Organisers: Raoul Wallenberg Institute, Lund University, Anna Lindh Memorial Fund, and UPF Lund
About the Annual Anna Lindh Lecture Series
The Anna Lindh Lecture honours the memory of Anna Lindh, Sweden’s former Minister for Foreign Affairs, renowned for her commitment to international solidarity, democracy, and human rights. Each year, the lecture invites a distinguished speaker to reflect on pressing global issues central to Lindh’s legacy and the continued struggle for justice and peace.
Media and Attendance
The lecture event is open to the public and the media. Journalists wishing to attend are asked to contact Jennifer Jun (jennifer.jun@rwi.lu.se) by 11 November 2025.