IHRB welcomes Margot Wallström as Patron 

IHRB is delighted to welcome Margot Wallström, former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Sweden, as IHRB’s newest Patron. Margot was previously Chair of IHRB’s International Advisory Council, where she provided expertise and insights on key global issues that impact human rights, from conflict to diplomacy. 

Margot joins IHRB’s esteemed Patrons: Mary Robinson, Chris Marsden, and the late John Ruggie (in Memoriam). 

Margot Wallström, IHRB Patron, said:

“For good or for bad, the impact of corporations on human rights is in the spotlight more than ever. Our prospects of overcoming the interconnected crises we face - from climate change to conflict - will hinge on the actions of responsible business and whether they choose to advance or harm human rights. IHRB plays a unique role as a bridge between human rights and the corporate world, and I remain committed to championing the organisation’s mission in my role as Patron.”

Julia Batho, IHRB Acting CEO, said:

“Margot’s support to IHRB over the years has opened doors, progressed critical conversations, and inspired bold new thinking in how we deliver our mission. I’m grateful for Margot's continued support in her role as Patron.”

More about Margot Wallström:

From 2014-2019, Margot Wallström was Sweden’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Löfven Government, spearheading the country’s feminist foreign policy, and was also Sweden’s Minister for Nordic Cooperation from 2016-2019. She has been Special Representative to the UN Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict. She is a former Vice President of the European Commission and Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders' Ministerial Initiative.

Margot has received numerous awards related to human rights, as well as environmental and European issues, including the Monismanien Award for Freedom of Speech (2009) and the Göteborg Award on Sustainable Development.