Knowledge can drive real change: Meet Annette Lyth, Head of Office at Swedwatch
Annette Lyth is a lawyer with nearly 30 years of experience working on human rights and gender equality, including within the United Nations and in international human rights work. She has previously taught on the programme and is now Director of Swedwatch.
You have worked on human rights, gender equality and social justice in many different parts of the world. What sparked your interest in these issues, and why are they important today?
– It was the people I met that first sparked my interest. At a time when democracy and human rights are being rolled back in many parts of the world, it is more important than ever to understand how power and inequality work, and to stand up for rights that are often taken for granted.
How are these issues reflected in the programme?
– The programme explores how gender, rights and justice are interconnected in a global context. It reflects issues I have encountered throughout my professional life: how crises and conflicts affect people differently, how international law can be used, and how local initiatives can drive change. It also addresses whose perspectives are made visible and who risks being overlooked, both in international organisations and in research.
How can the programme contribute to creating change in society?
– Knowledge of gender and human rights helps us ask important questions: Who is affected? Who is missing from the room? Whose needs are we taking as our starting point? When these perspectives become an integral part of policy, law and professional practice, real change becomes possible.
What opportunities are there after graduation?
– There is a wide range of opportunities. Graduates can work for working for international organisations such as the United Nations, but also for development and humanitarian organisations, NGOs, consultancy firms, government agencies, local and regional authorities. Roles may involve research and investigation, advocacy, project management, analysis or gender mainstreaming. The programme also provides a strong foundation for further study and research.
What would you say to someone considering applying to the programme?
– Apply! It is an exciting programme that brings together gender studies, human rights, law, social sciences and global issues. You learn to analyse complex problems from different perspectives, while linkingtheory to practice. You gain the tools to understand how inequality and structures of power work, and how you can contribute to change. One of the programme’s great strengths is the student community, where people from different backgrounds and with different experiences come together for engaging and inspiring discussions. What they have in common is a desire to contribute to a more just world. If that resonates with you, you will thrive on the programme.