Civil society organisations offer views on Finland's term in UN Human Rights Council
Finland's membership of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) comes to an end at the turn of the year. The three-year term from 2022 to 2024 coincided with a turning point in global politics, which was reflected in both the HRC agenda and Finland's priorities. For Finland, systematically defending the HRC's global mandate to promote and protect human rights has been a prime concern. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs invited civil society organisations to discuss the outcomes of Finland's membership, lessons learned, and Finland's future actions as an HRC observer.
To mark the ending of Finland's membership of the HRC, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs together with the UN Association of Finland and the Advisory Board for International Human Rights held a consultation for civil society organisations on Wednesday 11 December at Merikasarmi. The consultation focused on the outcomes of Finland's membership, lessons learned, and the next steps after Finland becomes an observer of the HRC. Nearly 40 civil society representatives came along to join the discussion. The event was hosted by Rosa Puhakainen, Human Rights Advisor and Head of Education at the UN Association of Finland. The event's opening and closing sessions featured addresses by Deputy Director General Erik Lundberg from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Executive Director Helena Laukko from the UN Association of Finland, and Vice-Chair Atik Ali from the Advisory Board for International Human Rights.
The discussion opened with a video message from Phil Lynch, Executive Director of the International Service for Human Rights, an international, independent non-governmental organisation. Lynch thanked Finland for its active role in establishing the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Russia, responding to Russia's war of aggression, and promoting the human rights of the Uyghur minority in China and women and girls in Afghanistan. Of the thematic topics, he highlighted Finland's exemplary work during the membership term to promote the rights of women and girls and indigenous peoples, condemn extrajudicial executions, advocate for an adequate standard of housing, and protect human rights defenders. In the work as an observer, Lynch called on Finland to take initiative to bring country situations into the debate and take a stand on reprisals against individual defenders. He also encouraged Finland to reapply for the HRC membership.
Finland was known to act systematically and reliably
The panel discussion assessing the outcomes and lessons learned was attended by Ambassador Heidi Schroderus-Fox, Finland's Permanent Representative in Geneva, Kaari Mattila, Member of the International Board of the International Federation for Human Rights, Hanna Tuominen, Jean Monnet Professor from the Centre for European Studies of University of Helsinki, Roosa Rantala, Advisor for Human Rights and Advocacy at the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission, and Tuomas Tuure, Advocacy Coordinator at Abilis Foundation.
Overall, Finland was considered to have acted systematically and reliably throughout its HRC membership. A great recognition and demonstration of trust by the Group of Western European and other States was Finland's election as Vice-President representing the regional group. Many panellists agreed with Phil Lynch, saying that Finland had systematically supported the work of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Finland's key priorities in the HRC were to defend the status of women and girls, the rights of indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and LGBTI persons. One of the key achievements of Finland's membership was the new resolution on combating discrimination, violence and harmful practices against intersex persons, which the Council adopted following Finland's successful advocacy. However, the speakers called for stronger coherence between Finland's international action and national policy measures.
The work in the Human Rights Council was affected by Finland's term taking place in a challenging global situation. Crises and wars continue to shake up the global order, while gender equality and democracy are being questioned globally by various anti-movements. The panellists emphasised many times that human rights must be seen to stand at the core of foreign and security policy on all agendas. Human rights are a key element of peace, security and development. By supporting the multilateral rules-based human rights system, we also improve Finland's security.
Persecution of human rights defenders and curtailment of the civic space are serious problems that have become common across the world. As a member of the HRC, Finland actively sought to address them. In particular, Finland has been praised for its support for increasing the visibility of human rights defenders in the Council. Participation of Finnish civil society in Finland's work was considered an important part of the membership. Positive practices included the regular consultations held under the leadership of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the participation of a representative of the Advisory Board on International Human Rights in Council sessions as part of the Finnish delegation.
The three-year term showed that the HRC is a genuine stage for world politics and a "barometer", as the panellists called it. Voting behaviour is a concrete indication of what each state represents or to whose camp it belongs. The HRC is also an important forum for establishing dialogue between states with differing views. The panel recalled that the HRC resolutions may have a crucial impact on development or change of direction at national level. Individual states can seek the UN's support and standards to build a fairer society. For example, Kazakhstan has striven to do so when reforming its legislation to combat domestic violence.
Work as a member will end, but work in the Council will continue
From next year, Finland's work in the HRC will go on under an observer mandate.
"Finland intends to continue as an active observer and as a guardian of the HRC's global mandate," Deputy Director General Erik Lundberg from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs said in his closing address.
The participants expressed their wish to continue the close cooperation between the Ministry and civil society organisations, and hoped that Finland would maintain an active dialogue both with the remaining and new member states of the Council. They also urged Finland to continue its bold initiatives concerning, for example, country situations. Action to defend human rights will also be visible during Finland's OSCE chairpersonship, which will start next year.