FM leaves for Geneva to address HRC

Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto on Sunday left Finland for Geneva, Switzerland to deliver Finland’s address in the 52nd session of the Human Rights Council scheduled for Monday, said the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in a press release.

The Human Rights Council is the UN’s most important intergovernmental body protecting and promoting human rights.

“The UN Human Rights Council has an important mandate to ensure the realisation of human rights around the world. This is particularly important to remember when we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights this year. Human rights belong to everyone, and all UN Member States are committed to human rights,” said Haavisto.

Finland’s membership of the Human Rights Council in 2022–2024 started in January 2022. As a Member of the HRC, Finland systematically promotes the rights of women and girls, gender equality, the rights of vulnerable persons and groups, and the implementation of accountability.

Supporting the independent work of free civil society, human rights defenders and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights is an essential part of Finland’s membership in the Human Rights Council.

In Geneva, the Foreign Minister will also attend a High-Level Segment of the Conference on Disarmament, where he will deliver Finland’s national statement.

In addition, Minister Haavisto will attend a high-level side event, organised by Finland, on realising the rights of persons with disabilities in conflict settings.

He will have bilateral discussions with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, among others.

He will also meet several foreign ministers from other countries and leaders of international organisations. The topics in Geneva will include Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, which Finland condemns in the strongest terms, and the current situation in Afghanistan, Iran and the Palestinian territory.