Finland promotes human rights globally during its three-year membership of UN Human Rights Council
During its membership of the UN Human Rights Council between 2022 and 2024, Finland defended universal human rights and the multilateral rules-based system. Finland’s key priorities were to ensure accountability and gender equality and to promote and defend the rights of women and girls, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities and LGBTI persons.
Human rights belong to all, including to those in the most vulnerable position. The UN Human Rights Council (HRC), which is made up of 47 member states and convenes in Geneva, is the most important intergovernmental body on human rights in the multilateral rules-based system. Finland served on the HRC in 2022–2024. Ambassador Heidi Schroderus-Fox, Permanent Representative of Finland, held the prestigious position of a Vice-President of the HRC in 2024.
As a member, Finland consistently defended the HRC’s global task of promoting and protecting human rights and the work of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Finland actively built partnerships promoting human rights with various states, the UN and civil society. With Finland’s active contribution, the HRC has taken action to address human rights violations and war crimes and promoted accountability.
Finland has strongly supported the HRC’s efforts to ensure that Russia is held accountable for its aggression against Ukraine. On the initiative of Finland and its partner countries, the HRC intervened in the serious situation in Russia by appointing a Special Rapporteur to support civil society space in the country.
During our term, the HRC also took a stand on several issues, including the human rights violations perpetrated by the Taliban in Afghanistan, Iran’s repression of the Women, Life, Freedom movement, human rights violations in Belarus, the civil war in Sudan, and the war in Gaza. Finland also consistently called on China and other states to respect human rights.
Finland highlighted women and girls’ right to participate in decision-making in society and to decide on their own lives and bodies. Finland also consistently promoted the rights of sexual and gender minorities, persons with disabilities and Indigenous Peoples. Finland supported strengthening an enabling environment for civil society and human rights defenders.
Through a Finland-led initiative, the HRC adopted for the first time a widely supported resolution on the right of intersex persons to live without violence and discrimination.
The resolution on the right to adequate housing stressed, among other matters, the inclusion of persons with disabilities in decision-making concerning housing, and the accessibility of housing.
Finland also ensured that the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions was renewed.
Since January 2025, Finland has participated in the HRC as an observer. Finland will continue its long-term efforts to promote universal human rights in cooperation with all stakeholders.
Some figures on Finland's membership of the UN Human Rights Council in 2022–2024
9 regular sessions, 44 weeks in total
3 special sessions, 3 urgent debates, 13 organisational meetings
105 speeches given in connection with the HRC’s general discussions and dialogues. In addition, participated in numerous EU, NB8 or other joint statements
308 resolutions, decisions or HRC President’s statements under negotiation
9 Finland’s own resolutions or decisions. Numerous resolutions presented by the EU
36 events organised by Finland or with Finland’s other significant contribution, and 41 other events supported by Finland
10 national open events for civil society discussing Finland’s actions as an HRC member