Finland presents its views to human rights organisations

In the virtual event, organised by the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) and Amnesty International, the candidate countries will present the themes and objectives that they have set for their candidacy for membership. In addition, the public, civil society organisations and state representatives will ask the candidate countries about the status of human rights in their own country and about their membership pledges.

Finland's representative at the event will be the Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jukka Salovaara. By participating in the event, Finland proves its commitment to its possible membership of the Human Rights Council, human rights and dialogue with civil society. The multilateral international system would be incapacitated without the contribution of civil society, research institutes, journalists and companies. If elected to membership of the Human Rights Council for 2022–2024, Finland will continue to consult and engage these actors in efforts to defend human rights.

Effects of climate change and digitalisation on human rights at the heart of Finland's campaign

The themes of the Finnish campaign are the rights of women and girls, new technologies and the digital transformation, climate change, and education as a human right. Finland will continue to promote the rights of persons with a disability, indigenous peoples, and LGBTI people. Important matters include efforts to defend multilateralism against increasing attempts to undermine it and to increase civil societies’ opportunities to participate in the UN’s activities. In Finland’s opinion, the UNHRC should express its opinion on country situations also in future.

In its campaign, Finland has focused on the opportunities offered by new technologies and digitalisation, and on the impacts of climate change on human rights. These are matters that affect the wellbeing of all people. Furthermore, people who have equal access to education are able to promote human rights and sustainable development. Finland’s expertise in these sectors could be used also in the work of the Human Rights Council.

The Human Rights Council is made up of 47 Member States and a third of them change every year. Finland served in the Human Rights Council for one year in 2006–2007. In the October elections, 19 states are running for the vacant 18 seats. There is no competition in the Western European and Others Group, (WEOG): the candidates for the three seats are Finland, Luxembourg and the United States. Each candidate needs at least 97 votes to be elected to the HRC. The Human Rights Council elections will be held at the UN General Assembly in New York on 14 October.

Follow Human Rights Pledging Event on the ISHR Youtube Channel on Wednesday 8 September 2021 at 16.00–18.30 Finnish time. The event can be viewed as a recording later via the same link.