The world is on fire. From Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Latina America, and Europe, countries struggle with violent conflicts, internal instability, political unrest, and new threats like climate change and mis and disinformation. The international community is struggling to find solutions to these complex issues. With significant polarization between east and west, south and north: where does the United Nations stand? What are the hopes and concerns for world peace and stability? 

During this conversation with the Salve Regina University community, Pernilla Rydén will engage in discussion on the current state of affairs as well as what could be the future of UN peace operations and the important role of a tricky multilateral system.

This event is in partnership with the Salve Regina University department of political science and international relations.

Pernilla Rydén serves as the director of the Challenges Forum International Secretariat. She has extensive experience working with peace and security over the last 20 years. Rydén has served in numerous United Nations (UN) peace operations, both large multidimensional missions as well as special political missions and offices. Most recently, Rydén held the position as Chief of Staff of the UN Mission to support the Hudaydah Agreement (UNMHA) in Yemen, delivering on the relevant parts of the Stockholm Agreement (2018). Previous she served as Head of the Regional and Multilateral Section of the Political Affairs Department in United Nations Stabilisation Mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) where she led the mission’s work on strategic guidance on developments in the African Great Lakes region, as well as on the DRC international relations. Rydén has also served in the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes, the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), the Secretary-Generals Panel for the Referenda in Sudan, and the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). She has also served within the European External Action Services (EEAS) and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), as well as worked at the Swedish Embassy in Serbia and for the Swedish Armed Forces. Rydén holds a master’s degree in political science and economics from the University of Lund, Sweden.