Peter Weiderud

Representative of the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Peter Weiderud is presently Special Advisor for Religion in Conflict and Peacebuilding in the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Department for UN Policy, Conflict and Humanitarian Affairs. Since 2019, Weiderud is member of the OSCE/ODIHR Expert Panel on Freedom of Religion or Belief. He is one of the founders and facilitators of the Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace Process under the Auspices of the Embassy of Sweden. Between 2015 and 2018 he was Director for the Swedish Institute Alexandria, the ministries platform for dialogue between Countries of Europe and the Countries of Middle East and North Africa, with a particular focus on religion, culture, and human rights.

Weiderud was President of the Religious Social Democrats of Sweden 2005-2015 and in this capacity also member of the Executive Committee and Party Board of the Social Democratic Party of Sweden. Weiderud has previously served as and Senior Advisor to the Swedish Foreign Ministers Lena Hjelm-Wallén and Anna Lindh, 1994-99, Director for Commission of the Churches on International Affairs of the World Council of Churches in Geneva between 2002-06, International Director of Church of Sweden 1999-2002, Chief Executive Officer of the European Training and Technology Center in Erbil, Iraq, 2011-13, and General Secretary of the Parliamentary Forum on Small Arms and Lights Weapons 2007-15 and Personal Assistant to the Bishop of the Diocese of Västerås, Church of Sweden, 1989-94. He has further been General Secretary and President of the Christian Peace Movement in Sweden, President of the Swedish Foundation for Human Rights and Director for the Unit for Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation of the Christian Council of Sweden. Weiderud has a BA in Journalism from Stockholm University and Certificates in Peace and Conflict studies and Management from the University of Uppsala.