Anna Lisbet Christina Palme, née Beck-Friis (14 March 1931 – 18 October 2018) was a Swedish chairperson of UNICEF, educated as a child psychologist.

She was married to late Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme,(1956–1986; his assassination).

Children

Joakim Palme
Mårten Palme
Mattias Palme

UNICEF

She was chairwoman of the Swedish UNICEF Committee since November 1986 to her death, in which role she campaigned against the sexual exploitation of children and was a member of the Organisation of African Unity committee of investigation into the Rwandan genocide which reported its findings in 2000. She was worldwide chairwoman of UNICEF in 1990–91.

Assassination of Olof Palme

Olof Palme was shot and killed in central Stockholm on 28 February 1986 while walking home with his wife after a late night movie - without bodyguards. Lisbet Palme was also injured in the shooting by a shot that grazed her back.

Two years after the event, Christer Pettersson, a small-time criminal and drug addict, was arrested, identified by Mrs Palme. He was tried and convicted for Palme's murder. Pettersson's conviction was later overturned on appeal. As a result, the crime remains unsolved and a number of alternative theories as to who carried out the murder have since been proposed.

Personal life

On 9 June 1956, she married the future Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme.