President leaves for US today to attend UNGA

President Sauli Niinistö and First Lady Jenni Haukio are scheduled to leave for the United States on Thursday to attend the 72nd Regular Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

During the visit from September 14 to 23, the president will take part in the opening week of the UNGA session on 18-21 September, said a press release of the president’ office.

On Monday, September 18, the president will meet with UN Secretary-General António Guterres and attend the UN Reform Event chaired by the US President Donald Trump.

In addition to this, Niinistö will deliver the Finnish National Statement at the High Level Meeting on the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse hosted by Guterres.

Niinistö has joined the UN secretary-general’s initiative, Circle of Leadership, aimed at gaining commitment of heads of state and government in preventing sexual exploitation and abuse.

On Tuesday, September 19, Niinistö will attend the opening of the General Debate of the 72nd Session of the UNGA as well as the summit on a Global Pact for the Environment chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron.

In the evening, Niinistö and Haukio will attend a welcome reception hosted by President Donald Trump.

Niinistö will deliver Finland’s National Statement at the General Debate of the 72st Session of the UNGA on Wednesday, September 20. He will also deliver a speech at the HeForShe event organised by UN Women, the United Nations agency for gender equality and women’s rights.

He belongs to the Champion World Leaders, an initiative of UN Women’s HeForShe campaign. Champion World Leaders consists of heads of state and government, CEOs and university presidents.

On Thursday, September 21, Niinistö will deliver the keynote speech at the Zero Emission Summit on Citizens’ Role in Mitigating Climate Change. The summit is part of Climate Week NYC, an event which has been organised by the Climate Group in New York since 2009.

Niinistö will serve as the chair of the Delegation of Finland at the UNGA. The Finnish delegation also consists of Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini and Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Kai Mykkänen.

First Lady Jenni Haukio will be meeting with, among others, Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF Justin Forsyth in New York to discuss "Tiny Stories", a campaign based on an idea by Haukio.

She will also be attending a luncheon hosted by the US First Lady Melania Trump as well as the First Ladies’ Initiative, an event hosted by Laura Bush. The theme of the event is the leadership of women and status of girls. It is being organised by the George W. Bush Institute.

President Niinistö and First Lady Haukio will begin their trip to the United States in Washington D.C., where they will attend the Finland 100 gala at the Finnish Embassy on Saturday, September 16.

Niinistö will also be meeting with several US senators while in Washington.

At the end of the UNGA week, the presidential couple will travel to Minneapolis, Minnesota as part of the celebrations for the centenary of Finland’s independence.