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12.3.2025 | A survey by We Foundation shows that groups for extracurricular activity organised by municipalities free of charge as part of the school day provide the majority of the participants with a safe space that is free of bullying, discrimination and racism. The results confirm that groups based on the Finnish model for leisure activities increase student wellbeing and are the only opportunity for many children and young people to have a hobby. The survey covers 20 municipalities of different sizes.

25.11.2021 | Programme-based support for Finnish civil society organisations (CSOs) is allocated for the implementation of Finland’s development policy objectives to eradicate extreme poverty, reduce inequality and promote human rights. The work is carried out in close cooperation with developing countries’ own CSOs. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has granted approximately EUR 276 million for Finnish CSO’s multiannual development cooperation in 2022–2025.

23.8.2021 | The Ministry of Justice has made new operational commitments to sustainable development. The Ministry of Justice is committed to combating trafficking in human beings, strengthening the rule of law in international cooperation, using research data that takes better account of different population groups, and reducing the carbon footprint of its administrative branch.

15.6.2021 | Minister of Employment Tuula Haatainen spoke about the coronavirus pandemic and its effects on working life at the plenary session of the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) International Labour Conference on 15 June 2021. Haatainen emphasised the importance of tripartite cooperation during crises such as the coronavirus epidemic.

17.5.2021 | The Foreign Ministry’s campaign is part of the global Generation Equality initiative. Finland is one of the co-leaders of the Action Coalition that is responsible for Technology and Innovation for Gender Equality. As a country that is known for gender equality and technological expertise, Finland can set an example in promoting equality in the tech sector.

13.5.2026 | A clear majority of people in Finland considers humanitarian aid an important and effective form of development cooperation. In a recent survey, more than 90 per cent of the respondents agreed that humanitarian aid for Ukraine is important. The public opinion poll, commissioned from Taloustutkimus by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, shows that views on development cooperation continue to be split by gender and along party lines.

16.4.2026 | Minister of Employment Matias Marttinen has been invited to join the Young Global Leaders network of the World Economic Forum (WEF). Young Global Leaders is a collaborative community of exceptional young leaders from politics, research, business and other sectors. Through its development programme, influential persons under the age of 40 receive tailored leadership training in cooperation with world-class universities.

19.5.2026 | Opening speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen at the LDC Future Forum in Helsinki on 19 May 2026.

26.1.2026 | The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment appointed a working group to prepare a programme to prevent segregation. The working group will identify measures to reduce segregation. The programme is due to be completed by the end of 2026.

16.3.2026 | The Ministry of the Environment will update its strategy as part of the preparations for future challenges and government terms. The online discussion that has now been opened ‘Where is the Ministry of the Environment headed?’ gathers views on what the role and targets of the ministry should be to address the changes in society, and what we should achieve by 2035.

25.9.2025 | In its new report, Outlook for Finland – Assessment of Sustainability in Society 2025, the Prime Minister’s Office assesses the current state and development of sustainability in Finnish society.

27.8.2025 | Finland has granted core funding from the 2025 development cooperation appropriation as follows: EUR 25 million to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), EUR 19 million to UN Women, EUR 3 million to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), EUR 1 million to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and EUR 1.5 million to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

9.5.2025 | The topics on the agenda include the joint European degree label and the role of education in preventing inequality. The Council will also discuss the impact of disinformation, manipulation and cyber threats on young people and delve into the future strategic priorities for the cultural sector in the EU. Council conclusions are expected on the promotion of sport and physical activity in the educational context.

17.9.2025 | Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering Joakim Strand gave a keynote Address to the Institute of International and European Affairs on the 17th of September 2025 in Dublin, Ireland. Check against delivery.

7.3.2025 | The promotion of gender equality, women’s rights and the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) people is facing strong opposition around the world. The situation causes concern, but Finland’s policy is clear: we defend gender equality and continue to work towards achieving equality between women, men and people belonging to gender minorities together with the other Nordic countries, civil society and our other partners.

7.3.2025 | The 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) will take place in New York between 10 and 21 March 2025. Finland will be represented at the session by a broad-based delegation headed by Minister Sanni Grahn-Laasonen.

29.11.2024 | The tripartite working group tasked with examining the implementation of the EU Directive on Minimum Wages in Finland has completed its work. According to the group, implementation of the Directive does not require national legislative measures. The current legislation meets the requirements of the Directive, and the conclusion of collective agreements is supported through official measures. In Finland, minimum wages are based exclusively on the collective agreement system.

13.6.2025 | The recipients of the 2025 State Award for Public Information have two things in common: they give a voice to those often left unheard and they challenge the status quo. Their work invites us to look at the world with curiosity, empathy and a critical eye.

8.3.2024 | The 68th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) will take place in New York between 11 and 22 March 2024. Finland will be represented at the session by a broad-based delegation headed by Minister Sanni Grahn-Laasonen, who is responsible for gender equality issues.

1.12.2023 | This year, the UN Climate Change Conference, or COP28, will host the first-ever Health Day and climate-health ministerial. The purpose of the thematic day is to highlight how climate change affects people’s health and wellbeing as well as the resilience of health systems and societies and to point out that the climate crisis is also a health crisis.