Mr Thomas Hammarberg was elected Commissioner for Human Rights on 5
October 2005 by the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly. He took up
his position on 1 April 2006, succeeding the first Commissioner, Mr Alvaro
Gil-Robles.
Mr Hammarberg was nominated for the post of Commissioner for Human Rights
by the Swedish government.
Prior to his appointment, he spent several decades working on the
advancement of human rights in Europe and worldwide.
He has held the key posts of Secretary General of the
Stockholm-based Olof Palme International Center (2002-05), Ambassador of the
Swedish Government on Humanitarian Affairs (1994-2002), Secretary General of "Save the Children"
Sweden (1986-92), and Secretary General of the
London-based Amnesty International (1980-86).
Mr Hammarberg also held several special
positions during these years. In 2001-03, he served as Regional Adviser for
Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus 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 on 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.
Over the past 25 years, Mr Hammarberg has
published widely on various human rights issues, particularly on children's
rights, 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.
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