With the tragic death of Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh, the human rights movement lost one of its most accomplished, principled advocates, Human Rights Watch said today.
“Foreign Minister Lindh was an exceptionally committed and effective champion of international human rights,” said Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch. “The world is indebted to her for her principled leadership on issues ranging from the International Criminal Court to protections for children in armed conflict.”
Lindh died September 11 after being stabbed by an unknown assailant while shopping in Stockholm. She had served as Sweden´s foreign minister since 1998. Highlights of her tenure included her vigorous condemnation of human rights violations in the Middle East, Turkey, Chechnya and Tibet, and her unflagging support for the International Criminal Court.
“In response to the U.S. assault on the International Criminal Court, Anna Lindh stood up for the court and the cause of international justice while others fell silent,” Roth said. “Her voice will certainly be missed.”
