By: Clemence Velon-Bazzana, Communication Associate
RWI and Lund University organized a collaborative workshop on 16 March, highlighting the unique and longstanding partnership between the two institutions and the contribution and impact of our academic cooperation in supporting human rights responses in the Ukrainian context.
Ukraine: challenges, resilience, and innovation
Ukraine is currently facing extraordinary human rights challenges, including ensuring access to justice, protecting civilians, safeguarding disability rights, strengthening governance systems, and addressing violations of international humanitarian law – all against the backdrop of an active conflict. At the same time, Ukrainian institutions, researchers, and civil society actors are continually developing new approaches and perspectives that can guide and inspire the global human rights community.
The one-day workshop was designed as an interactive session bringing together academics, practitioners, and partners from across both institutions engaged in Ukraine-related topics and issues. It began with a set of presentations by RWI on the Human Rights Infrastructure for Ukraine: 2025-2027 project and various ongoing projects in Ukraine and an introduction to the Lund–Ukraine Alliance for Academic Support (LUA), which strengthens academic cooperation between Sweden and Ukraine.
In the afternoon, parallel workshops focused on four key themes:
- Access to justice, led by Zvezda Vankova – Associated Professor at LU and Theresia Kirkemann Boesen – RWI Country Director (Ukraine)
- Disability rights, led by Lena Halldenius –Head of Human Rights Department and Professor at LU, and Zuzana Zalanova – RWI Senior Advisor
- Conflict and disasters, led by Jessica Almqvist Professor of International Law and Human Rights at LU, Manuel Galvis Martinez – RWI Researcher and Thematic Leader of International Humanitarian Law, and Tukhan Ediev – RWI Programme Officer (Ukraine)
- Good governance and business practices, led by Johanna Ohlsson – PhD at LU and Halyna Kokhan – RWI Programme Officer (Ukraine)
In convening researchers and practitioners around these important human rights themes, we aim not only to share information and updates about ongoing work but also to stimulate new partnerships and ideas. Through initiatives like this, RWI and Lund University reaffirm our shared commitment to advancing human rights research, strengthening academic partnerships, and supporting those working to address urgent challenges, both in Ukraine and globally.
RWI and Lund University, a partnership linking theory and practice
The collaboration between RWI and Lund University is marked by world-class research, multidisciplinary expertise, and RWI’s operational experience across multiple regions in the world. Together with Lund University, we combine theory and practice in ways that few organizations do. 
Across its work globally, RWI continues to see an increasing need for strong academic cooperation in the field of human rights, and universities play a crucial role in generating knowledge independently of political cycles and short-term pressures. Academic research and thought leadership provide evidence base, theoretical frameworks, and critical analysis needed to understand and respond to complex global challenges. This workshop served as a concrete example of how our partnership with Lund University translates into meaningful platforms for exchange, learning, and collaboration.