17-year-old Natasha Al-Zeilaa to step into Finnish Foreign Minister’s role for one day as part of Girls Takeover event

The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs will participate in the international Girls Takeover event run by Plan International, a children’s rights organisation. During the event, girls take over the roles of political, social and economic leaders. On 12 March, Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will step aside for the day to let Natasha Al-Zeilaa, an upper secondary school student from Vantaa, assume her post.

“As Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, I work every day to ensure that girls, both in Finland and abroad, can live in societies that are safe and equal. I look forward to my day and talks with Natasha,” says Foreign Minister Valtonen.

Plan International’s symbolic Girls Takeover event draws the world’s attention to structural shortcomings that prevent gender equality from being achieved and girls from using their full potential. Globally, girls and young women have already taken over the positions of thousands of leaders in 70 countries since 2016.

This is the first time that the Finnish Foreign Minister is participating in the event. The theme of the takeover is well in line with Finland’s long-term human rights policy, according to which Finland promotes and defends the rights of women, girls, people with disabilities, indigenous peoples, gender and sexual minorities and other people in particularly vulnerable positions, among others.

Finland supports girls’ and women’s political participation and activeness in society as part of its foreign policy and global advocacy work. These goals are also important for Foreign Minister Valtonen personally. “I want to encourage girls to step forward and boldly seek positions where they want to exert influence. Belief in oneself is the foundation for being able to influence matters.”