Sweden

Boys at Sayedu Shahada school in Kabul, Afghanistan

Human Rights Watch Sweden

Available In English Svenska
 

About us

Human Rights Watch is one of the world’s leading independent organisations dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world. In September 2015, Human Rights Watch opened the office of its Sweden affiliate to intensify its advocacy on key human rights issues both in Sweden and around the world, and to increase support for the work of Human Rights Watch worldwide.

Our establishment in Sweden marks our first formal presence in Scandinavia - a milestone achievement in our efforts to globalise operations and to harness Sweden’s strong human rights culture to effect lasting improvements for victims of abuses worldwide.

The Sweden office organises several larger public and smaller private events throughout the year, and engages with Swedish decision-makers in government and in other sectors as part of the organisation’s advocacy work. If you are interested in learning more about our local activities, please contact the Sweden office on email Sweden@hrw.org

Our work

Human Rights Watch is a nonprofit, nongovernmental human rights movement with a network of affiliates and offices around the globe. It includes roughly 400 staff members who are human rights professionals, including country experts, lawyers, journalists, and academics of diverse backgrounds and nationalities.

Established in 1978, Human Rights Watch is known for its accurate fact-finding, impartial reporting, effective use of media, and targeted advocacy, often in partnership with local human rights groups. Each year, Human Rights Watch publishes more than 100 reports and briefings on human rights conditions in some 90 countries, generating extensive coverage in local and international media. With the leverage this brings, Human Rights Watch meets with governments, the United Nations, regional groups like the African Union and the European Union, financial institutions, and corporations to press for changes in policy and practice that promote human rights and justice around the world. Would you be interested in finding out more about Human Rights Watch research on Sweden, please go to the Sweden country research page.

How we work

Investigate. Human Rights Watch is committed to systematically researching and analysing human rights conditions worldwide in order to uncover abuses. Researchers interview leaders, victims and witnesses so that they can form an accurate picture of what happened. They also review media and academic reports, domestic and international law and policy papers to gain a further understanding of the situation.

Expose. Human Rights Watch researchers publish their findings in the form of reports and articles. These are then made accessible to the public as well as local authorities in order to raise awareness of the abuses. The publications are available in multiple languages and formats and are often referenced in news articles worldwide.

Change. Following the identification and publication of human rights abuses, Human Rights Watch’s advocacy division work closely with local authorities and organisations in order to demand accountability and put an end to the abuses that they have discovered. The ultimate goal of Human Rights Watch is to ensure that human rights are upheld worldwide and to promote justice and change. 

Human Rights Watch is an independent, nongovernmental organisation, supported by contributions from private individuals and foundations worldwide. To ensure our independence, we do not accept government funds, directly or indirectly. Donations made in Sweden benefit our work worldwide.

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Swedish Fundraising Control

Human Rights Watch Sweden is a 90-account holder, approved and monitored by the Swedish Fundraising Control. You can contribute to Human Rights Watch Sweden by making a donation directly to our 90-account 90 04 54-0, or via Swish 9004540.

A girl plays in a public park in Patan, Nepal. Thirty-seven percent of girls in Nepal marry before age 18, and 10 percent are married by age 15. The minimum age of marriage under Nepali law is 20 years of age. April 24, 2016.
A girl plays in a public park in Patan, Nepal. Thirty-seven percent of girls in Nepal marry before age 18, and 10 percent are married by age 15. The minimum age of marriage under Nepali law is 20 years of age. April 24, 2016.  © 2016 Smita Sharma for Human Rights Watch   


Giva Sverige

As a member of Giva Sverige, Human Rights Watch Sweden complies with the “Giva Sverige – Quality code”. The code covers a range of requirements from governance and financial reporting to impact reporting. The guidelines for ethical fundraising is also part of the membership requirements.

News

  • April 9, 2020

    Abused and Shunned – Being of Asian Descent in Sweden During COVID-19

    In Sweden, a country that prides itself on tolerance and liberal attitudes, COVID-19 has increasingly become an excuse for xenophobic and racist attacks and microaggressions against people of Asian descent. Individuals have reportedly been yelled at, harassed, asked to leave public transportation, and shunned. There have been reports of children being bullied, even by children at kindergarten.

    To read the full dispatch, click here.

  • August 10, 2017

    #KissingIsCaring at Way Out West Festival

    Are you going to Way Out West? Do you like to kiss? Then visit GodEl's area at the festival and kiss in their photo booth! GodEl donates 250 SEK for each kiss in front of their photo booth. Go there with a friend and kiss (or do a hand blown kiss yourself) and contribute to our work on promoting and protecting the rights of LGBT people around the world. You find GodEl between the Flamingo and Linné stages.

    To learn more, please visit GodEl's website here.

  • October 25, 2016

    Human Rights Watch Sweden becomes beneficiary of the Swedish Post Code Lottery

    On the 4th October 2016, the Swedish Postcode Association announced that Human Rights Watch Sweden will become the lottery’s 56th beneficiary.

    – Fantastic news and important to us. To be chosen to become a beneficiary lays the foundation for our continued expansion in Sweden, says Måns Molander, Sweden Director for Human Rights Watch Sweden.

    To read the Swedish Postcode Association’s press release in its entirety, please visit their website here.

  • June 1, 2016

    Global Council Summit 2016

    Human Rights Watch annual Global Council Summit took place in Berlin on 20 - 22 June 2016. The annual Council Summit is an opportunity for Human Rights Watch Council members to meet with the directors, researchers and other representatives of Human Rights Watch. In connection with this year's Summit, Human Rights Watch was presented with the Theodor Wanner Award by the Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen (The Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations). For more information, please contact the Stockholm office on email sweden@hrw.org.

Contacts

Katharina Ervanius
City Director, Stockholm
Elin Nørve
Manager, Development & Outreach
Elsa Holmgren
Associate, Development & Outreach
Malin Tönne Strömstedt
Operations Officer, Scandinavia

Committees

Human Rights Watch Scandinavia Board of Directors

 
Bruno Stagno, Chair
Bruno Stagno Ugarte is the Deputy Executive Director for Advocacy since September 2014.  Read his full bio here.
 
Marusya Lazo
Marusya Lazo is, since September 2023, the Chief Financial Officer at Human Rights Watch. Prior to joining HRW she was the Vice President of Finance at Population Services International, and has also worked at Andersen LLP and Deloitte & Touche in London and New York. Marusya studied at the Institute of Charted Accountants for England and Wales, and holds a master’s degree in modern history from the University of St. Andrews.
 
Mats Björkman
Mats Björkman is a partner and lawyer at Setterwalls with extensive experience in corporate finance and M&A. He also has experience from working as a company lawyer and from the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.
 
Laura Boardman
Laura Boardman is a managing director for the development and outreach department at Human Rights Watch. She oversees the department’s activities in European and Middle East and North African cities.