Sharper focus for Finnish UN policy

Press Release 152/2013
17 July 2013

The Finnish Foreign Service published its new UN strategy at SuomiAreena in Pori on 17 July. Speaking at the launch event, Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja stressed the importance of the new strategy to Finnish UN policy. The strategy will allow Finland to work more effectively and consistently to further its goals in the United Nations.

Foreign Minister Tuomioja emphasised the key importance of sustainable development in Finnish UN policy. Steering global development onto a sustainable path is the biggest challenge currently facing humankind, and the UN has a pivotal role to play in meeting this challenge.

The strong emphasis on sustainable development is clearly evident in Finland’s new UN strategy, which gives a sharper focus to the themes that Finland wants to highlight in the near future. In the United Nations Finland wants to promote sustainable development via four main themes, which are:

• conflict prevention and resolution, including the promotion of peace mediation
• the promotion of gender equality, including support for sexual and reproductive health and rights
• support for democratic institutions and for the development of rule of law in the work of the UN
• the eradication of extreme poverty, the reduction of inequality and the promotion of environmental sustainability

The strategy will later be available in Swedish and English.

Additional information: Head of Unit Katri Viinikka, tel. +358 40 753 2730, and Counsellor Claus-Jerker Lindroos, tel. +358 40 132 1416, Unit for UN and General Global Affairs

• Finland’s new UN strategy (PDF in Finnish)