About the lecture
The annual Dag Hammarskjöld Lecture, jointly hosted by the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation and Uppsala University, is given in memory of Dag Hammarskjöld. It recognises individuals who exhibit the values that inspired him personally and as Secretary-General: compassion, humanism, and commitment to international solidarity and cooperation.
About Annalena Baerbock
On 9 September 2025, Annalena Baerbock took office as President of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), becoming the fifth woman to preside over the UN’s main deliberative body in its 80-year history. Emphasising her commitment to the UN Charter, President Baerbock has made strenghtening and reforming the multilateral system with the United Nations at its centre a priority.
Under the theme “Better Together,” her presidency has focused on strengthening the UN financially, reforming the organisation, and making multilateral decision-making more inclusive. She has advocated for greater participation by women, young people, civil society, and developing countries, while emphasising cooperation among the 193 Member States. She has also promoted gender equality and regional diversity in the selection of the next Secretary-General by encouraging Member States to nominate women and emphasising the importance of equitable regional representation, while supporting a transparent and inclusive selection process.
Prior to her election as UNGA President, Baerbock served as Germany’s Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2021 to 2025. In this role, she strongly advocated for a rules-based international order, emphasising Germany’s commitment to multilateralism. She also played a significant role in advancing the UN Pact for the Future, working closely with Namibia to help secure the landmark multilateral agreement adopted by Member States in September 2024.
Born in Hanover, Baerbock holds a Master of Laws (LLM) from the London School of Economics and Political Science and an undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of Hamburg. She was a member of the German Bundestag from 2013 until June 2025. In addition, she served as co-chair of the German Green Party from 2018 to 2022.
