Event at Finlandia Hall to celebrate anniversary of Women, Peace and Security Resolution

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the United Nations Security Council Resolution (1325) on Women, Peace and Security. A public event celebrating the anniversary at Finlandia Hall, Helsinki, on 5 September will look at Finland’s Women, Peace and Security (WPS) action from the perspectives of crisis management, peacebuilding and comprehensive security. The event is organised by the Finnish National Women, Peace and Security Network, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, CMC Finland, CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation, and the Council for Gender Equality (Tane).

Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, adopted by the United Nations Security Council in 2000, put women’s role and agency at the heart of peace and security issues. The resolution has promoted women’s equal participation in peacebuilding, crisis management and peace processes and drawn more attention to women's rights at different stages of conflict.

Finland has actively implemented the resolution’s objectives. The Finnish approach has encompassed cooperation between a vibrant civil society, authorities and international organisations, establishing Finland's global position as a consistent promoter of the resolution.  This work has been guided by national action plans, the first of which was completed in 2008 under the coordination of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Finland’s fourth National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security is now being implemented.  

The event at Finlandia Hall on Friday 5 September will celebrate the achievements gained through the 1325 resolution. The event will also discuss how Finland could promote the resolution in the changed global situation in future.

Speakers at the event include Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Security Policy Outi Holopainen from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Chair of the Finnish National Women, Peace and Security Network Elina Korhonen. The keynote speech will be delivered by former President Tarja Halonen.