Opening remarks at OSCE Ministerial Council side-event Achieving Gender Equality across the OSCE, on 5 December, 2024

Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen’s speech was delivered by Ambassador Jouni Laaksonen.

Ministers, dear colleagues, distinguished participants,

It is a great pleasure for me to deliver these opening remarks as the incoming Chair. Gender equality is a pre-requisite for the realization of human rights of every individual. For countries to thrive, they must be able to harness the potential of the whole society, not only half of it.

Today we celebrate 20 years since the adoption of the OSCE Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality. Next year, the world will mark both the 25th anniversary of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda as well as the 30th Anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform of Action. I wish the multilateral system today could produce something as powerful and progressive as these documents are.

Unfortunately this is not the case. We are experiencing gender pushback in many fora, the OSCE being no exception. However, with its vast network of field operations and autonomous institutions, the OSCE still is an essential platform for designing and implementing measures to unlock women’s full potential.

It is no coincidence that the anti-gender or anti-rights movement has lifted its head at the same time as authoritarianism strengthens its grip globally. Attacks on women’s rights and on the rights of sexual and gender minorities are an early warning sign of declining democracy. We have seen this also in Europe. 

Dear participants,

The situation of Ukraine is a litmus test also for the Women, Peace and Security agenda. The Russian war of aggression has now continued over 1000 days.  Throughout the war, the Ukrainian women have showed courage and decisiveness, joining the Ukrainian army at the frontline, leading humanitarian efforts and driving local businesses.

However, we have also witnessed increase of gender-based violence and of Conflict Related Sexual Violence, the latter affecting significantly also men.  Sexual violence undermines community stability and can have long-term social consequences if left unaddressed. Adequate Sexual and Reproductive Rights and Services are an essential part of a strong, survivor-centered response to CRSV. 

The active role of Ukrainian women in all peace and security efforts, at all levels, is essential for strong and sustainable recovery from the war. This means consciously investing in policies, which take into account the perspectives and views of women. It means ensuring that women in all their diversity are present and heard at the decision-making tables. This, of course, applies to all conflicts in the OSCE region and beyond.

Dear friends,

The statistics on sexual and gender-based violence are alarming and, increasingly, gender-based violence manifests itself online.

Online violence, harassment, stalking and other forms of abuse threaten women’s political participation. Ultimately, they constitute a real threat to our democracy.

Eliminating and preventing tech-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) is Finland’s priority as a co-leader of the Generation Equality Action Coalition on Technology and Innovation for Gender Equality. TFGBV must be tackled with targeted actions at several fronts: technology design, policies and legislation. It is equally important to address gender stereotypes and negative social norms as root causes of gender inequality. Men and boys must be recognized not only as allies but also as key drivers of change.

The digital world can either become an additional barrier for women and girls or an important tool for their empowerment. When designed and used responsibly, technology has the potential to benefit all women and girls economically, politically and socially.

As part of the Action Coalition on Technology and Innovation, the OSCE can work to close the digital gender gap and support States in strengthening legal and policy frameworks to combat violence faced by women and girls through digital technologies.

The overarching theme of the Finnish Chairpersonship of the OSCE in 2025 is resilience. A resilient society is a society that is democratic and based on rule of law, human rights and gender equality.