By: Jennifer Jun, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Communication
Peter Lundberg, Executive Director of the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (RWI), met last week with Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Maria Malmer Stenergard, to brief her on the Institute’s work in key regions where Sweden and RWI share long-term commitments to advancing human rights and the rule of law.
The bilateral meeting, on the occasion of Minister Stenergard’s Skåne visit, provided an opportunity to highlight RWI’s current engagements, among others, in Ukraine, Türkiye, and Syria, and RWI’s latest international humanitarian law initiative on monitoring compliance.
“Our mission is to contribute to a wider understanding of, and respect for, human rights and international humanitarian law (IHL) globally, but this work becomes most impactful when grounded in trusted partnerships and action-oriented dialogue,” said Peter Lundberg. “I was grateful for the opportunity to update Minister Stenergard on our programmes and express appreciation for the Ministry’s continued support.”
Ukraine: Supporting EU Accession and Human Rights Reform
Lundberg conveyed RWI’s appreciation for the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ support in strengthening rule of law and judicial reforms in Ukraine, particularly in the context of Chapter 23 of the EU accession process. Sweden’s backing has been instrumental in enabling RWI to support national and local institutions working toward EU alignment and democratic resilience.
The discussion also included RWI’s ongoing cooperation with the Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) to reinforce regional engagement and Ukraine’s European integration path.
International Humanitarian Law: The ICMD Initiative
Lundberg presented RWI’s development of the International Humanitarian Law Compliance Monitoring Database (ICMD) — a new initiative aimed at strengthening respect for IHL through evidence-based monitoring and increased transparency. Minister Stenergard commended the initiative as an important contribution to the international humanitarian law landscape.
Türkiye: Business and Human Rights
RWI’s long-term engagement in Türkiye was another focal point, with emphasis on recently launched efforts to build an enabling environment for the European Green Deal in Türkiye by fostering dialogue, building capacity, and forging new public-private collaborations.
Syria: Rule of Law and Access to Justice
Finally, Lundberg briefed the Minister on RWI’s recent three-day mission to the Syrian Arab Republic, conducted at the invitation of the Syrian Government. The visit featured constructive dialogue with key national stakeholders. The mission underscored the importance of sustained engagement and reaffirmed RWI’s commitment to supporting national and local actors in advancing the rule of law and access to justice in Syria.
Honouring Raoul Wallenberg and the Role of the Human Rights Library
Minister Stenergard also visited the Raoul Wallenberg Institute’s Human Rights Library and took part in the inauguration of a curated exhibition of books and printed material on Raoul Wallenberg’s legacy. The exhibition commemorates the 80th anniversary of Wallenberg’s disappearance and highlights his enduring legacy in the fight for human rights.
On this occasion, RWI expressed its gratitude to the Swedish Government for the financial support earlier this year to ensure the library’s continued operation. The Institute also stressed the importance of securing long-term financial support to guarantee the sustainability of both the library and RWI’s broader research in the fields of human rights and international humanitarian law. A decision is expected later this month when the national budget is presented.
For more information on RWI’s international programmes, visit https://rwi.lu.se