Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Toivakka to the UN Human Rights Council and the Conference on Disarmament

Press release 37/2016
26 February 2016

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Lenita Toivakka will visit Geneva from 29 February to 1 March 2016. She will speak at a High-Level Segment of the session of the Human Rights Council on 29 February. The Human Rights Council is a central inter-governmental body within the UN system, responsible for the promotion and protection of human rights. This year marks its10th anniversary. Finland seeks membership in the Human Rights Council for the term 2022–2024.

Minister Toivakka will also attend a high-level session of the Conference on Disarmament (CD) in Geneva on 1 March. In her address, she will deal with topical questions related to arms control and disarmament, such as the promotion of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).

Minister Toivakka will meet, among others, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad AlHussein and President of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRC) Peter Maurer. They will discuss topical humanitarian matters, such as the situation in Syria.

Inquiries:
Marja Koskela, Diplomatic Adviser to Minister Toivakka, tel. +358 295 350 633.
Human rights questions: Nina Nordström, Director, Unit for Human Rights Policy, tel. +358 295 350 104, Kaarina Airas, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of Finland to Geneva +41 79 681 7313.
Disarmament questions: Titta Maja, Minister-Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Finland to Geneva, +41 79 911 0264 and Lauri Hirvonen, Counsellor, Arms Control Unit, +358 295 351 794.