Thomas Hammarberg

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Thomas Hammarberg (born 1942) is a Swedish diplomat and human rights activist.

He is currently the Commissioner for Human Rights at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. He took up his position on 1 April 2006, succeeding the first Commissioner, Alvaro Gil-Robles.

Prior to his appointment, Hammarberg had spent several decades working on the advancement of human rights in Europe and worldwide. He had been Secretary General of the Stockholm-based Olof Palme International Center (2002-05), an Ambassador of the Swedish Government on Humanitarian Affairs (1994-2002), the Secretary General of Swedish NGO "Save the Children" (1986-92), and Secretary General of Amnesty International (1980-86).

Thomas Hammarberg also held several special positions during these years. In 2001-03, he acted as a Regional Adviser for Europe, Central Asia and the Caucuses for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. For several years, he was the Swedish Prime Minister's Personal Representative for the UN Special Session in Children, as well as the Convener of the Aspen Institute Roundtables on "Human Rights in Peace Missions". Between 1996 and 2000, he was Kofi Annan's appointed representative (SRSG) for human rights in Cambodia. He also participated in the work of the Refugee Working Group of the multilateral Middle East Peace Process.

For 25 years, Hammarberg has published widely on various human rights issues, and particularly on the rights of the child, refugee policy, minority issues, xenophobia, Roma rights as well as international affairs and security. He is also well known for his presentations and lectures on human rights at various governmental and academic institutions.