A new network specialising in human rights in foreign policy

Press release 56/2016
23.3.2016

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has set up a network consisting of invited 21 experts specialising in human rights policy matters to discuss related issues in the current Government term.

Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Security Policy Anne Sipiläinen will chair the network and Nina Nordström, Director of the Unit for Human Rights Policy, will serve as vice-chair.

The members of the network are key experts in foreign and social policy, leaders of human rights organisations and other civil society organisations as well as renowned representatives of academia, who have been invited to participate in the work in their personal capacity. The network will meet four times in 2016; the first meeting will be held on 19 April 2016.

Human rights belong to the central themes of the foreign and security policy of Finland and the EU. Openness and intensive interaction with civil society and professionals are fundamental preconditions for a successful management of human rights policy. In the UN periodic human rights reviews, for example, one of Finland's strengths has been open cooperation between the public authorities and civil society organisations.

By means of this network, the Foreign Service reinforces the effectiveness of its human rights policy and continues the practice of consultations, developed over the past decades and now a largely established procedure. Work will be conducted in a flexible manner to enable rapid response to changing needs.

The network will discuss different issues as a part of Finland's foreign policy. Moreover, it will give direct and effective support to Finland's human rights policy and provide relevant feedback. In support of its work, the Foreign Service needs expecially foreign and global policy expertise and advice on their relation to human rights policy.

Inquiries: Nina Nordström, Director, Unit for Human Rights Policy, tel. +358295 350 104

The following persons have been called as members of the network in their personal capacity:

Ali, Atik Chairperson, National Forum for Cooperation of Religions in Finland (CORE) Bruun, Niklas Professor, University of Helsinki Forsberg, Tuomas Professor, University of Tampere Gestrin, Christina Master of Science (Environmental Conservation) Jokinen, Markku Executive Director, Finnish Association of the Deaf Kantola, Tarja Chair of Board of Directors, Finn Church Aid (FCA) Koivurova, Timo Director, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland Kähkönen, Sirpa President, Finnish PEN Laajapuro, Niina Policy Director, Amnesty International Finland Laukkanen, Antero Member of Parliament Leino, Jani Legal Advisor, Finnish Red Cross Mattila, Kaari Secretary-General, Finnish League for Human Rights Bishop Arseni Bishop of Joensuu, Orthodox Church of Finland Pirjatanniemi Elina Professor, Åbo Akademi University Rautio, Sirpa Director, Human Rights Centre Saarikko, Annika Member of Parliament Sinisalo, Pekka M. President, Finns Party for Uusimaa Tiilikainen, Teija Director, Finnish Institute of International Affairs Toivola, Jani Member of Parliament Uotila, Kari Member of Parliament Vikman, Sofia Member of Parliament