THE UN STRATEGY OF THE FINNISH FOREIGN SERVICE - United Nations Development … · 2019. 10. 4. ·...

THE UN STRATEGY OF

THE FINNISH FOREIGN SERVICE17.7.2013

MINISTRY FOR FOREIGNAFFAIRS OF FINLAND

THE UN STRATEGY OF THE FINNISH FOREIGN SERVICE

17.7.2013

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ISSN 0358-1489ISBN 978-952-281-146-2PDF ISBN 978-952-281-147-9e-pub 978-952-281-148-6

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOREWORD BY THE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, THE MINISTER FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE MINISTER FOR EUROPEAN AFFAIRS AND FOREIGN TRADE ....... 7

1 PREFACE ................................................................................................................... 9

1.1Thepeaceandsecurity,humanrightsanddevelopment-triangleasFinland’sguidingprinciple...............................................................................11

1.2Inachangingenvironment,cooperationandpartnershipsareofincreasingimportance........................................................................................11

1.3SustainableDevelopment–ourgreatestsharedchallenge....................13

1.4Prioritisationincreaseseffectiveness..........................................................14

2 SPEARHEAD THEMES IN FINLAND’S UN POLICY ................................ 16

2.1Conflictpreventionandresolution............................................................17

Mediation................................................................................................18

StrengtheningtheroleofSpecialPoliticalMissionsinUNcrisismanagement............................................................................................19

StrengtheningsupportfortheResponsibilitytoProtect..................20

2.2Promotinggenderequality.........................................................................21

Strengtheningthepoliticalandeconomicparticipationofwomen 22

ImplementingtheResolution‘Women,PeaceandSecurity’...........23

Promotingsexualandreproductivehealthandrights.....................24

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2.3Supportingdemocraticinstitutionsandtheruleoflaw.........................25

SupportingdemocraticinstitutionsandtheruleoflawinUNactivities...................................................................................................25

Moreattentiontotheruleoflawintheinternational developmentdebate...............................................................................26

Reducingimpunityforthemostseriouscrimesofconcern totheinternationalcommunity...........................................................27

2.4Eradicatingextremepoverty,reducinginequalityandpromoting environmentalsustainability......................................................................28

Asoundandcomprehensivepost-2015development agendaasagoal.....................................................................................29

Strengtheningthefinancingbaseforsustainabledevelopment.....30

Makingoperationaldevelopmentcooperationmore efficientandeffective.............................................................................31

ThecapacityoftheUNtoalleviatehumansufferingin disastersisimproving...........................................................................32

Protectingtheenvironment,climatechangemitigationandadaptation,andsustainableandproper management ofnaturalresources................................................................................32

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APPENDICES

APPENDIX 1: AN OVERVIEW OF FINLAND’S ACTIVITIES WITHIN

THE FRAMEWORk OF THE UN ......................................................................................... 37

INTERNATIONAL OPERATING ENVIRONMENT IN FLUX ....................................... 37

FINLAND AND THE UN ........................................................................................................ 40

FINLAND’S ACTIVITIES AND GOALS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORk OF THE UN .......................................................................................... 42

Peaceandsecurity............................................................................................................... 43InfluencingtheSecurityCouncil........................................................................ 43Mediation............................................................................................................... 46ResponsibilitytoProtect...................................................................................... 48Supportingpeacekeeping.................................................................................... 50StrengtheningtheSpecialPoliticalMissions(SPM)inUNcrisismanagementandpeacebuilding........................................................................ 52ImplementingSecurityCouncilResolution1325‘Women,PeaceandSecurity’.................................................................................................................. 54Improvingarmscontrolanddisarmament....................................................... 55Supportingcounter-terrorism............................................................................. 58Sanctions................................................................................................................ 59

Internationaldevelopmentquestions.............................................................................. 60SupportingthedevelopmentactivitiesoftheUN........................................... 63Environmentandclimatechange....................................................................... 65Developingpeacebuilding................................................................................... 67Globalgovernance,tradeanddevelopment,includingcorporatesustainabilityandtheinformationsociety........................................................ 68

Promotinghumanrightsandtheruleoflaw................................................................. 71Humanrights........................................................................................................ 71Ruleoflawandgoodgovernance...................................................................... 74

Internationallaw................................................................................................................. 76Strengtheninginternationallaw......................................................................... 76Fightingimpunity................................................................................................. 77

Humanitarianassistance.................................................................................................... 78KeyUNFunds,ProgrammesandSpecialisedAgenciessupportedbyFinland....... 80

UnitedNationsPopulationFund(UNFPA)...................................................... 80

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UnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme(UNDP)....................................... 81UnitedNationsPartnershiptoPromotetheRightsofPersonswithDisabilities(UNPRPD)......................................................................................... 81UnitedNationsChildren’sFund(UNICEF)...................................................... 82UnitedNationsEntityforGenderEqualityandfor theEmpowermentofWomen(UNWomen).................................................... 82UnitedNationsJointProgrammeonHIV/AIDS(UNAIDS).......................... 83UnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramme(UNEP)......................................... 84UnitedNationsHumanSettlementsProgramme(UN-HABITAT)............... 84WorldHealthOrganization(WHO)................................................................... 85UnitedNationsFoodandAgricultureOrganization(FAO).......................... 85InternationalLabourOrganization(ILO)......................................................... 86UnitedNationsEducational,ScientificandCulturalOrganization(UNESCO).............................................................................................................. 86InternationalAtomicEnergyAgency(IAEA)................................................... 87UnitedNationsOfficeonDrugsandCrime(UNODC).................................. 88UNUWorldInstituteforDevelopmentEconomicsResearch (UNU-WIDER)...................................................................................................... 88OfficeoftheUnitedNationsHighCommissionerforRefugees(UNHCR) 89WorldFoodProgramme(WFP).......................................................................... 89OfficefortheCoordinationofHumanitarianAffairs(OCHA)...................... 90UnitedNationsReliefandWorksAgencyforPalestineRefugees (UNRWA)............................................................................................................... 90UnitedNationsMineActionService(UNMAS).............................................. 91UnitedNationsOfficeforDisasterRiskReduction(UNISDR)...................... 91

UNreform............................................................................................................................ 91

CHANNELS OF INFLUENCE AND COOPERATION PARTNERS .............. 94IncreasingtheeffectivenessofFinland’sUNpolicy...................................................... 94

InfluencingtheUNthroughtheEU................................................................... 94InfluencingtheUNthroughtheNordicGroup............................................... 95ElectedofficesinUNBodies............................................................................... 96InfluencingtheboardsofProgrammes,FundsandSpecialisedAgencies... 96RecruitingFinnstoUNpositions....................................................................... 97

Domesticcooperation........................................................................................................ 97Cooperationbetweentheauthorities................................................................. 97CooperationwithParliament.............................................................................. 98Cooperationwithcivilsociety............................................................................ 98

ImplementingtheUNStrategy......................................................................................... 99

APPENDIX 2: ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................................ 100

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FOREWORD BY THE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, THE MINISTER FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE MINISTER FOR EUROPEAN AFFAIRS AND FOREIGN TRADE

TheUnitedNationsisanindispensableinstrumentininternationalcooperation.ForFinlanditalsoconstitutesauniqueforumofforeignpolicy.ThestrengthsoftheUNintheconstantlychangingmultilateralcooperationincludeitsuniversalmembershipandthediversityofitsactivities.ItisinFinland’sintereststoimprovetheUN’slegitimacyandabilitytotakeaction.

ThepreviousUNStrategyoftheMinistryforForeignAffairsofFinlandwasadoptedinMay,2008.TheGovernmentProgrammeof2011setthegoalofupdatingtheStrategy.FollowingtheSecurityCouncilelectioninOctober2012wefeltitnecessarytoreformtheStrategy,ratherthanonlyupdateit.TherewasaneedtosharpenFinland’sprofileintheUN,andthisStrategyaimspreciselyatdoingthat.

Finland is a respectedpartner in theUN. In turn, theUNas anorganisationenjoysbroadsupportinFinnishsociety.Withintheworldorganisationweareamongthosestateswhosewordcanbecountedon,andamongthosethatpresentsolutionsratherthanproblems.ThislaysasolidfoundationforouractionandinfluenceintheUN.

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The greatest challenge of humankind is to achieve sustainabledevelopment.SustainabledevelopmentisalsotheoverarchingthemeofthisStrategy.WithintheUNFinlandpromotespeaceandsecurityaswellashumanrightsanddevelopment,andregardsitnecessarythatalloftheaforementioneddimensionsberealisedsoastoachievegenuinelysustainabledevelopment.

Persistent,enduringanddeterminedeffortsarerequiredforachievingresultsandraisingone’sprofileintheUN.Clearprioritisationisneeded.InourfutureUNpolicywemustincreasinglyfocusontheessentialfromFinland’sstandpointandtheconcretemeansbywhichthefundamentalissuescanbeadvanced.ThisStrategydefinesFinland’sprioritiesforthecomingyears.

WehopethatthisStrategyanditsfourspearheadthemesserveasaconcreteguidingprincipleforallwhoworkwithUN-relatedmatters.

ErkkiTuomioja HeidiHautala AlexanderStubb

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1 PREFACE

TheUnitedNations(UN)isauniqueforumforFinland’sforeignpolicy.Theworldorganisation,encompassingalmostallofthesovereignstatesintheworld–193memberstatesatpresent–isagatheringplaceparexcellencefortheinternationalcommunity.TherearescoresofstatesintheworldwithwhomFinlandwouldprobablynotinterfacewithouttheUN.ForFinlandtheUNisthedoorthatleadstotheworldoutsideoftheEuropeanUnionandtheleadingindustrialisedcountries.Itisabarometeroftheworld’sconstantlyshiftingpowerrelations,andakindofclearinghouseforinternationalpolitics.

TheUNwasfoundedin1945,aftertheSecondWorldWar.Thegoalwasto‘savesucceedinggenerationsfromthescourgeofwar’,astheloftyPreambleoftheUNCharterstates.DuringthenearlysevendecadessincethefoundingoftheUNthedynamicsofmultilateralcooperationhaveundergoneaprofoundtransformation.Theinternationalsystemhasbecomeincreasinglymultipolar,spawningaltogethernewcooperativestructures.Whileinterdependencybetweenstateshasradicallygrown,theroleofnon-governmentalactorshasalsostrengthened.Theconceptofsecurityhasbecomemorecomprehensive.ThesechangeshavehadaneffectontheUN.Nevertheless,theUN,throughitsuniversalmembership,wide-rangingactionandlegitimacyhasretaineditsstatusasthecornerstoneofmultilateralcooperation.

OwingtothecircumstancesthatprevailedwhentheUNwasfounded,the prominence of the states thatwon the SecondWorldWar isparticularlyaccentuatedintheSecurityCouncil,theorganisation’smostimportantbody.ThroughoutthehistoryoftheUN,greatpowerrelationshavesignificantlybeenreflectedinitsaction.TheabilityoftheUNtotakeactionintheareaofpeaceandsecuritywasvisiblylimitedduringtheColdWar,but,conversely,thecapacityoftheSecurityCouncil

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improvedintheaftermathoftheColdWar.Inspiteofthis,SecurityCouncilreformhasstalled,eventhoughprogresshasbeenmadeintheotherareasofUNreform.

TheUNpossessesconsiderablenormativepower.Theguidelinesadopted by theworld organisation create rules for internationalcooperation,impactingthelivesofmillions.ThebindingresolutionsoftheSecurityCouncilcontinuetobetheonlytoolsforauthorizingtheinternationalcommunity’suseofforce.ThankstotheUNthecommonresolvetopromotehumanrightshasstrengthenedinrecentdecades.ThroughtheMillenniumDevelopmentGoals(MDG)extremepovertyrateshavebeenreducedbyhalf,aheadofthedeadline,andtheUNispresentlypreparinganew,post-2015globaldevelopmentagenda.

UNprogrammes,fundsandspecialisedagenciesmakeanimpactinpeople’severydaylivesonallcontinents.ThetreatiesandnormativestandardsadoptedbytheUNguideourlivesinmanyways.TheUNisoftenthefirstorganisationtoprovidereliefincrisisareas,anditplaysaleadingroleincoordinatinghumanitarianassistance.TheUNisalsothekeyactorinpromotinglong-termsustainabledevelopment.Nonetheless,theUNoperatesfarandwide,eveninindustrialisedcountries. Examples of thewell-knownUN ‘brands’ include theWHO’sInternationalCertificateofVaccination(i.e.the‘YellowCard’),UNESCO’sWorldHeritageList,andUNICEF’seffortstoimprovethelivingstandardsofchildren.

NotonlyistheUNaforumforFinland’sownforeignpolicy,itisalsoacentralarenafortheCommonForeignandSecurityPolicy(CFSP)oftheEuropeanUnion.BymonitoringregionalcrisesandconflictsthroughtheUNFinlandalsoimprovesitspotentialtoactivelyparticipateintheformulationoftheCFSP.IntheUNFinland,too,oftengainsaccesstotheoriginalsourcesofinformation.

Arules-basedinternationalsystemistherequisiteforwell-functioninginternationalcooperation.Finland,beingasmallcountry,isparticularlydependentontherules-basedsystem.AcountrysuchasFinlandmust

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alsobepresentatthetableswheretherulesareset.ThemotivationforouractiveinvolvementintheUNisnotonlylimitedtowantingtomaketheworldamorejustandbetterplaceforallofitsinhabitants:italsoservesourownnationalinterests.

1.1 The peace and security, human rights and development-triangle as Finland’s guiding principle

Anunderlyingprinciple inUNactionisthebelief thatpeaceandsecurity,humanrightsanddevelopmentcreateatrianglewithinwhichnosingleelementcanseparatelyoccurwithout thesimultaneouspresenceoftheothers.Whereasthisviewwasconfirmedinthe2005WorldSummitOutcomedocument,theverysamelineofthinkingwasalreadymanifestedinthePreambleoftheUNCharter.Nevertheless,inpracticepeaceandsecurity,humanrightsanddevelopmentoftencompetewitheachotheroverfundingandotherlimitedresources.Differententitiesalsocreatepoliticalconfrontationbetweenthesethreedimensions.

Finlandbelievesthatthebalanceddevelopmentofpeaceandsecurity,humanrightsanddevelopmentisimportantfortheUN.Finlandalsoactivelyendeavourstostrengthenallthreeelementsandstrivesforanincreasinglycloseinterrelationshipbetweenthem.ThisistheguidingprincipleofFinland’sUNpolicy.

1.2 In a changing environment, cooperation and partnerships are of increasing importance

InrecentyearsantagonismbetweentheglobalNorthandSouthhasepitomisedmanyUNactivities.Akindof‘Westagainsttherest’attitudeprevails.Forinstance,whenitcomestowomen’srightsinternationalconsensushasnotincreasedinrecentyears.Onthecontrary,women’s

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rights and certainotherhuman rights arenow facingnewfoundchallenges,evenopposition.

Theso-calledemergingpowersaredemandingmoresaywithintheinternationalsystem.TheinstitutionalstructuresoftheUN,builtonthepost-WWIIsituation,arewidelyregardedasobsoleteandunjust.ThebestknownexampleofthisinvolvestheaforementionedcompositionoftheSecurityCouncilwhichunderscoresthepositionofthevictorsinWWII.EvenonepermanentmemberoftheCouncilcanparalysetheUN,asseeninconjunctionwiththesituationinSyria.ConsideringthelegitimacyoftheUNacontinualreformoftheorganisationisimportant.However,over-optimisticexpectationsshouldbeavoided.

TheEUisFinland’smostimportantreferencegroupintheUN.FinlandattemptstoactivelyinfluencetheEU’scommonpositions,operatesaccordinglyandstrivestowardsstrongerEUcoherence.Evenso,theEU’sCommonForeignandSecurityPolicyhasnotmaterialisedquitethewayinwhichFinlandhopeditwould.ThishasbeenparticularlymanifestintheUNwheretheEUhasfailedinachievingcommonpositionsincertainfundamentalquestions.

TheotherNordiccountriesareyetanotherimportantreferencegroupforFinland.TheNordiccountries’strongcontributiontoUNactionhastraditionallybeenvalued.Ontheotherhand,theNordiccountries’recentlossesinimportantUNelectionssuggestthatthereputationoftheNordiccountriesdoesnotnecessarilycarrythesameswayasinthepast.InthefuturetheNordiccountriesmustmorecarefullyconsidertheirapproach,lesttheyappearascondescendingorevenas‘know-it-alls’.

Inordertopreventthecreationofstrongboundaries,andeliminatethosethatexist,itisimportanttoextendcooperationandpartnershipsbeyondtheconfinesoftraditionalcountrygroupings.Hence,FinlandactivelyseekspartnershipsoutsidetheEuropeanUnionandtheNordiccountries.Forexample,FinlandcooperateswithTurkeyinpromotingmediationwithintheUNsystem.InthecomingyearsFinlandincreasinglyaimstoinvestinthesekindsofpartnerships.

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Partnersareneededathomeaswell.TheForeignService’scooperationwiththeotherauthorities,Parliament,theprivatesectorandthecivilsociety supportFinland’saction in theUN.Forexample,variousinitiativesfromwithinFinnishsociety,andpartnershipswithdifferentUNbodiescan,fortheirpart,increaseFinland’scloutintheUN.

1.3 Sustainable Development – our greatest shared challenge

Finland’sactionintheUNisalsoguidedbystrongawarenessofthefactthatthegreatestsharedchallengeforhumankindistoachievesustainabledevelopment.Sustainabledevelopmentcomprises theenvironmental,economicandsocialdimensions.Environmentallysustainabledevelopmentisthefoundationthatsupportseverythingelse.Thenagain,withoutsocialandeconomicsustainability,includingthereductionof inequality, it is impossibletoachievesustainabledevelopment.Theeradicationofpovertyandsustainabledevelopmentare inherently intertwined.During the past century theworld’spopulationquadrupled,passingthesevenbillionmark.Irreversiblechangeshavealreadytakenplaceintheenvironment.Atthesametimeinequalitykeepsgrowingandglobaluncertaintyisontherise.

Wecannotknowforcertainwhetheritisanylongerpossibletoachievesustainabledevelopment.Whatwedoknowisthatman-madeclimatechangecontinuestoadvance.AsthefinalreportoftheHigh-levelPanelonGlobalSustainability,establishedbytheUNSecretary-General,states:“weneedtochangedramatically,beginningwithhowwethinkaboutourrelationshiptoeachother,tofuturegenerationsandtotheecosystemsthatsupportus”.

EventhoughtheUnitedNationsConferenceonSustainableDevelopment(Rio+20),unfortunately,didnotmeetallexpectations,theUNcontinuestobetheonlyglobalforumwherethenecessaryactionstosupportsustainabledevelopmentcanbeagreed.TheworkonnewSustainableDevelopmentGoals is,therefore,ofprimaryimportance.Simultaneously,

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thepreparations for thepost-2015 global development agenda –followingtheMillenniumDevelopmentGoals–havebegun.FinlandconsidersitimportantthattheprocessofestablishingtheSustainableDevelopmentGoalsandthatforthepost-2015globaldevelopmentagendabebroughttogethertocreateasinglesetofuniversalgoalswhichcoverinabalancedwaythethreeelementsofdevelopment:theeconomic,socialandenvironmentaldimensions.Thegoalsshouldbefocused,clearandmeasurable,andtheyshouldtakeintoaccountthedimensionofpeaceandsecurity.

1.4 Prioritisation increases effectiveness

TheUNagendaisveryextensiveandFinlandcannotpossiblyparticipateinthehandlingofallmatters.Wearecontinuallyforcedtomakechoices.Finlandparticularlyinvestsinsuchtopicsthroughwhichwecanadvanceourmostprizedvaluesandobjectives,wherewecanclearlybringaddedvalueandwhich,byvirtueofFinland’spreviousexperiencesandaction,wecancrediblypromote.Prioritisationisnecessarysoastoincreasetheeffectivenessofourpolicyandtheresultsofouraction.

InOctober2012Finlandwasacandidateintheelectionforanon-permanentseatontheUNSecurityCouncil.Finland’scompetitorsAustraliaandLuxembourgwereelected.TheelectioncampaignprovedthattheUnitedNationsandFinland’sUNpolicyenjoywidespreadsupportinFinnishsociety.RegardlessoftheresultitisobviousthatFinland’sstrongcommitmenttotheUNisinternationallyacclaimedaswell.Nevertheless,inordertoincreaseitseffectivenessandvisibilityFinlandmustsharpenitsprofile.ThisStrategyaimsatpreciselythat.

ThisStrategydefinesthethemesonwhichFinlandwillespeciallyfocusintheUN.TosomedegreetheyinvolveareasinwhichFinlandhasalreadyachievedaleadingroleofakindintheUN.Finland’scooperationwithTurkeyinpromotingmediationwithintheUNsystemcanbementionedasanexample.InadditiontothespearheadthemestherearetopicsunderwhichFinlandsupportstheactivitiesofother

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statesandwhichFinlandactivelymonitors.IncertainUNprogrammesandfundsFinlandisamongthebiggestdevelopmentdonors.This,assuch,increasesFinland’sauthorityinadvancingitsowninterests.Nonetheless,Finlandmustdeprioritisecertainthemes.

SufficientresourceswillbeearmarkedforthepromotionofFinland’sspearheadthemes,bothattheForeignMinistryandatFinland’smissionsaccreditedtotheUN.TheStrategydoesnotalterthegoals,prioritiesorpracticespresentedintheGovernmentSecurityandDefencePolicyReport,GovernmentDevelopmentPolicyProgramme,theHumanRightsStrategyoftheFinnishForeignServiceorothercomparableguidelines.Thisbeingthecase,thefunctionsoftheUNStrategyarecoordinatedonanongoingbasiswithexistingprogrammesandguidelines.Whenitcomestodevelopmentpolicy,goalswillalsobelookedatinagency-specificstrategies.UNagency-relatedgoalswillbedetailedinassociatedspecialstrategies.

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2 SPEARHEAD THEMES IN FINLAND’S UN POLICY

Basically,inthelongrunallofFinland’seffortsintheUNaimatachievingsustainabilityinglobaldevelopment.Thereisnosilverbulletforachievingthisgoalbecauseofthecomplexcausalchaininvolved.Security,theinternalsituationwithinsocietiesanddevelopmentarecloselyinterlinked.Humansimpacttheenvironmentandtheenvironmentsetsthelimitsforhumanaction.Actionmustbetakenatmanylevelssoastoachievegenuinelysustainabledevelopment.TheUNsystemmayoperatelocallyandgloballyaswellasnormativelyandconcretely.Nonetheless,itisimperativethatthetraditionalfunctionsoftheUNinthefieldsofpeaceandsecurity,humanrightsanddevelopmentbecombinedintosuchactionthatsustainablyandeffectivelyadvancesglobaldevelopment.

Oneconcreteoptiontopromotethekindof thinkingwhichtakesintoaccountinterdependencyandtherequirementsofsustainabledevelopmentistodefinenewSustainableDevelopmentGoals aspartofthepost-2015developmentagenda.Therefore,Finlandconsidersitimportantthatpeaceandsecurity,humanrights,democracyandtheruleoflaw,alongwithdevelopmentandtheenvironment,alsobeincludedinthefuturetargets.FinlandendeavourstopromotesuchanapproachintheUNwhichgenuinelytranscendssectoralboundaries.

ThegoalofFinland’sactiveUNpolicyistoadvancethesustainabilityofglobaldevelopment.WhileFinland’sactionisbroad-based,itfocusesonfourspearheadthemessoastoattaineffectivenessandadistinctprofileintheUN.CommontothethemesisthefactthatforalongtimealreadyFinlandhasadvancedthemandachievedresultsinthem.AllofthemarealsocentralfromtheviewpointofFinland’sfundamentallong-termgoals.Thethemesare:

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1)Conflictpreventionandresolution,

2)Promotinggenderequality,

3)Supportingdemocraticinstitutionsandtheruleoflaw,and

4)Eradicatingextremepoverty,reducinginequalityandpromotingenvironmentalsustainability.

Each spearhead theme takes into account social, economic andenvironmentalsustainability indevelopment.Progress infindingsolutionstoclimatequestionsisanessentialprerequisiteforadvancingeachofFinland’sspearheadthemes.InadvancingthethemesFinlandconsistentlypaysattentiontotheconnectionbetweenpeaceandsecurity,humanrightsanddevelopment.Likewise,thesteeringfunctionofotherprogrammesandguidelinesconcerningdevelopmentpolicy,humanrightsandhumanitarianassistanceisalsofullytakenintoaccount.Eachthemesupportstheothers,andactsasavehicleforachievingtheothers’goals.ThefollowingisalistingofconcreteactionsinpromotingthespearheadthemeswithintheUNsystem.

2.1 Conflict prevention and resolution

Thecapabilityof theUNtoprevent,manageandresolveviolentconflictsisstilltheprincipalyardstickbywhichthecapacityoftheorganisationismeasured.Finland’scompetenceharksbacktoourtraditionalpeacekeepingcontribution–50000FinnshaveservedasUNpeacekeepers–andourparticipationinmediation.

FinlandendeavourstostrengthentheroleofpreventiveactionintheUN.Developmentandhumanrightsarecentraltoconflictpreventionandsustainablepeace.Ontheotherhandpeaceandsecurityarenecessaryelementsforsustainabledevelopmentandtherealisationofhumanrights.Finlandalsopromotestheconsiderationofthisviewpointinthepost-2015developmentagenda.

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InthecomingyearsintheUNFinlandwillespeciallyfocusonmediation,thedevelopmentofSpecialPoliticalMissions(SPM)andstrengtheninginternationalsupportfortheResponsibilitytoProtect.

Mediation

FinlandhasplayedadecisiveroleinraisingmediationtothecoreoftheUNagendaduringthepastfewyears.TheGroupofFriendsofMediationwasfoundedinSeptember2010inNewYorkontheinitiativeofFinlandandTurkey.Sincethefirstministerialmeetingthenumberofmemberstateshasincreasedfrom12to37.TheUnitedStatesisthenewestmember:itsmembershipwasapprovedinthespringof2013.Inaddition,regionalorganisationsandtheUNparticipateintheGroup,whichincreasesthenumberofmembersto45(asofspring2013).

AsaresultoftheworkcompletedintheGroupofFriendsofMediation,inJune2011theGeneralAssemblyadoptedthefirsteverresolutiononmediationfortheUNsystem.BasedontheresolutiontheSecretary-GeneraloftheUnitedNationsdevelopedguidanceformoreeffectivemediation,simplifyingthebasicrulesofmediation.ThefutureeffortsoftheGroupofFriendsofMediationalsoaimatstrengtheningthenormativebaseofmediationintheUN,andatmediationreceivingmoreresourcesinternationally.TheintentionistoincreasecooperationbetweentheUNandregionalorganisations.FinlandcanprovideaddedvaluetothisonthegroundsofpreviouscooperationwiththeAfricanUnion(AU),amongothers.

Finland’scredibilityasapromoterofmediationdemandstheexistenceofcapableandtrustworthyFinnishmediators.NGOssuchastheCrisisManagementInitiativeandFinnChurchAidplayacentralroleinthis.

Finlandespecially invests in strengthening the roleofwomen inmediation.Inaddition,Finlandhasrecentlyaccruednicheexpertiseinutilisingtheroleoftraditionalandreligiousleadersinmediationwhereastate’sowninstitutionsarefragile.Thisnicheareawillalsobedeveloped,albeitwiththecaveatthatrelianceontraditionalstructuresnotdiminishthestatusofwomen.

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Finland’scooperationwithTurkeyhasprovedextremelyconstructiveinthepromotionofmediation.Thiscooperationhasmadeitpossiblefor Finland to reach out to countries and regional/interregionalorganisationsonwhichFinlandwouldotherwisehavehadnoinfluence.ThepartnershipwithTurkeywillcontinue.

SteeredbyguidelinessuchastheDevelopmentPolicyProgramme,andothers,Finlandalsofundsmediation.WhereasthissupportisparticularlydirectedtotheUNDepartmentofPoliticalAffairs,Finnishandotheractorsalsoreceivesupport,aboveallontherequestoftheUN.

Strengthening the role of Special Political Missions in UN crisis management

Finlandpossesses strong expertise inUNpeacekeeping. FinnishparticipationinUN-ledpeacekeepinghasdecreasedoverthepastdecades.Nonetheless,theUN-ledUNIFILoperationinLebanonis(spring2013)Finland’slargestsinglecrisismanagementcontributionbyfaranditwilllikelyremainthelargestoneinthecomingyears.ThedecreasingvolumeofFinland’sparticipationmirrorsthewiderstructuraltransformationinUNpeacekeeping.ThevastmajorityofUNcontingentsnowcomefromtheglobalSouth.

Alongwithtraditionalpeacekeepingmissionstheimportanceofso-calledSpecialPoliticalMissions(SPM)isontherise.Inadditiontomilitarycrisismanagement,increasingattentionisgiventociviliancrisismanagement.WithitsSPMstheUNtriestomanagecomplexpeaceprocesses,exemplifiedbythenewassistancemissioninSomalia,theJointSpecialRepresentativeforSyriaandtheregionalcentreforCentralAsia.

ThegoaloftheSpecialPoliticalMissionsistofindresolutioninlieuofmereconflictmanagement.Mostofthemare,inpractice,civiliancrisismanagementinthedifferentphasesoftheconflictcycle.MostSPMsareinextricablylinkedwithmediationor,ineffect,constitutemediation.

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Finlandinvestsinthebroad-baseddevelopmentoftheSPMsand,togetherwithMexico,strivesforaleadingrole.OwingtoitsstrongpeacekeepingandmediationtraditionFinlandhasgoodchancesinsucceedinginthis.Inaddition,thelessonslearnedindevelopingtheEU’scrisismanagement,especiallyciviliancrisismanagement,arebeingutilisedinthedevelopmentofSpecialPoliticalMissions.

ThedevelopmentoftheSPMsalsotakesintoaccounttheimprovementoftheearly-warningaspect.Forexample,humanrightsviolationsmaybeanindicationofadevelopingcrisis.

Strengthening support for the Responsibility to Protect

Inthe2005WorldSummitOutcometheGeneralAssemblyadoptedtheResponsibilitytoProtect(R2P).Thisnewnormisnotyetfullyestablished.TheconceptemergedasaresultofthecrisesinRwanda,BosniaandKosovointhe1990s,whichspawnedstrongcritiquetowardstheineptitudeoftheinternationalcommunityand,specifically,thatoftheUN.

TheimportanceofR2Pininternationalpoliticshassignificantlygrowninthepastfewyearssinceithasbeeninvoked,amongotherthings,inSecurityCouncil(SC)Resolutions.ThegeneralconsensusisthattheSCResolution,whichreferredtoR2Pinitspreamble,anditsimplementationmanagedtopreventwidespreadviolenceagainstthecivilianpopulationinLibya.TheResolutionauthorisedtheuseofforcetoprotectcivilians.Inaddition,withregardtothesituationinIvoryCoastinearly2011theR2Pprinciplewasinvoked.TheexpectationsputontheinternationalcommunitytotacklethecrimesundertheResponsibilitytoProtect–genocide,warcrimes,crimesagainsthumanity,andethniccleansing–havesignificantlygrown.

FollowingtheoperationinLibyacritiquehasalsobeendirectedatthemannerinwhichtheR2Pprinciplewasimplemented.DifferencesofopinionbetweenthecountriesthattraditionallyhavestronglysupportedtheR2Pandthecountriesthatemphasisetraditionalstatesovereignty

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havebecomeallthemoreobvious.Thisdevelopmentispartlyassociatedwiththestrengtheningroleoftheso-calledemergingpowers.AsanexampleofthisdebateonecanmentionBrazil’s“ResponsibilitywhileProtecting”initiativein2011.

InitsUNpolicyFinlandincreasinglyemphasisestheconsolidationofandinternationalsupportfortheResponsibilitytoProtect.FinlandalsoaimstobuildbridgeswithcountriesthathavetakenacriticalviewontheR2P.Finlandunderscoresthesignificanceofpreventionandtheroleofmediation,amongotherthings.ThefundamentalprinciplesoftheResponsibilitytoProtectalsoentailtheinternationalcommunity’sresponsibilitytoassistandsupportstatesintheimplementationoftheobligation.Developmentpolicycanbolsterthedevelopingcountries’owncapacity inpreventingcrimesasper theR2P(genocide,warcrimes,crimesagainsthumanity,andethniccleansing,includingtheirincitement).

2.2 Promoting gender equality

Finland’sgoalistomainstreamhumanrightsinallactivitiesoftheUN.WhiletheUNHumanRightsCouncilandtheThirdCommitteeoftheGeneralAssemblyaredistinctimportanthumanrightsfora,FinlandalsopromoteshumanrightsacrosstheUNsystem.Finlandunderscorestheindivisibilityofhumanrights,i.e.thefactthathumanrightsareequalandinterdependent.ThenewHumanRightsStrategyoftheFinnishForeignServicealsoprovidesguidelinesforFinland’sconductintheUN.Thecross-cuttinggoalsoftheHumanRightsStrategyaretheeradicationofdiscriminationandincreasedopennessandinclusion.

WhenitcomestodevelopmentpolicyanddevelopmentcooperationtheGovernment’sDevelopmentPolicyProgramme,whichalsoguidestheallocationofdevelopmentaid,isfoundedontheprinciplethatFinland’sdevelopmentpolicyanddevelopmentcooperationshallbehumanrightsbasedinitsentirety.

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Finland’sspearheadthemeinthefieldofhumanrightsintheUNisgenderequality.Finlandparticularly invests instrengthening thepoliticalandeconomicparticipationofwomen, implementingSCResolution1325(Women,PeaceandSecurity),andpromotingsexualandreproductivehealthandrights.

Strengthening the political and economic participation of women

In theUNFinland activelypromotes thepolitical and economicparticipation of women. The realisation of rights and thenondiscrimination ofwomen and girls are important in view ofadvancingsustainabledevelopmentinallcountries.Investingintheeducationofwomenandgirls isofutmost importanceasregardsstrongerpoliticalandeconomicparticipationofwomen.Finland’sinternationallyrenownededucationexpertiseoffersagoodbasisforpromotingthisaspect.

IntheUNFinlandparticularlysupportsstrengtheningthepoliticalandeconomicparticipationofwomenthroughUNWomen,theUnitedNationsEntityforGenderEqualityandEmpowermentofWomen.Finlandwasactivelyinvolvedinfoundingitin2010,andendeavoursto strongly increase its financing to theactivitiesofUNWomen.Strengtheningtheparticipationofwomencanalsobesupportedthroughotherorganisationsandchannels.

FinlandpromotesgenderequalityontheboardsofUNprogrammesandfundssothattheyworkforgenderequalityintheirrespectivefields.Finlandalsopaysattentiontothegender-specificimpactsofclimatechange.

TheCommissionontheStatusofWomenoftheUNEconomicandSocialCouncil(ECOSOC)centresongenderequality-relatedissuesandonimprovingthestatusofwomen.Finland,amemberofECOSOCfrom2013-2016,focusesonhavinganactiveandproductiveroleintheCommission.FinlandalsodevelopscooperationbetweentheNGOsthatadvancetherightsofwomenandgirlsandfemalerightsactivists.

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Implementing the Resolution ‘Women, Peace and Security’

SecurityCouncilResolution1325‘Women,PeaceandSecurity’,adoptedin2000,emphasisesthatwomenandgirlsshouldnotonlybeseenasvictimsofconflict.Rather,theyshouldberegardedasactiveparticipantswhoseinvolvementinthepeaceprocess,peacebuildingandconflictpreventionisaprerequisiteforsustainablepeace.FinlandconsidersthatthebalancedimplementationofResolution1325,includingallotherassociatedresolutions,isimportant.Finlandcanespeciallyprovideaddedvaluebyadvancingtheactiveroleofwomen.AtthesametimeFinlandemphasisesincreasedattentiontothepreventionofsexualviolenceinconflict.

TheimplementationofResolution‘Women,PeaceandSecurity’isakeyelementofstrengtheningpeaceandsecurity.Concurrently,itisalsoahumanrightsissue.

FinlandhasalreadyattainedaprominentroleintheUNasanexpertinadvancingwomen’srights.Thisworkwillcontinueinthecomingyears.FinlandendeavourstoactivelypersuadetheSecurityCounciltosystematicallytakeintoaccountthegenderperspectiveandespeciallywomen’srightsinallcountry-specificaction.InNewYorkFinlandhasorganisedseveralhigh-leveleventsonwomen’srightsinanattempttofocusattentionontheimplementationofResolution1325.Finland,togetherwithmanyothercooperationpartners,willcontinuetoorganisesucheventsandtouseothermeansinordertoadvanceacomprehensiveimplementationoftheResolution.Importantdomesticpartnersincludethenational1325Follow-upGroupandthe1325NGONetwork.

Theroleofwomen inpeaceprocesses ishighlighted inFinland’smediation-advancingaction.FinlandbackstheUNMediationSupportUnitby,amongotherthings,financingthegendertraininggearedatmediatorssoastomakecertainthattheUnitedNations’statementsonthestatusofwomenalsomaterialiseinpractice.FromtimetotimesomeUNmemberstatesattempttolimittheResolution‘Women,PeaceandSecurity’toonlyapplytoarmedconflictandpost-conflictsituations.

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FinlandbelievesthatResolution1325isessentialinconflictprevention,whichispreciselywhatFinlandisendeavouringtoconsolidateintheUN.

Promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights

Sexual and reproductivehealth and rights are important for therealisationofhumanrightsandforthedevelopmentofsocietyingeneral.Thisisasocialthemeandanychangethereininvolveseveryone,notjustwomenandgirls.Non-existentsexualandreproductivehealthservicesandglaringshortcomingsinsexualandreproductiverights,suchastherighttoinformationandsexualeducation,concretelyaffectthepoorestwomenandgirlsindevelopingcountries.Therealisationofsexualandreproductivehealthandrightsisapreconditionforthereductionofpovertyandsustainableeconomicandsocialdevelopment.Inspiteofthis,thepromotionofsexualandreproductivehealthandrightshasencounteredresistanceinrecentyears,evenwithintheEuropeanUnion.TheroleofFinlandandlike-mindedcountriesishighlighted,lestthecommitmentsmadeatthe1994InternationalConferenceonPopulationandDevelopment(ICPD)inCairobediluted.

ThegoaloftheHigh-LevelTaskForceforICPDistobeabletopromoteeveryone’ssexualandreproductivehealthandrightsinthe20-yearreviewoftheProgrammeofAction(a.k.a.CairoConsensus)in2014without anydiscriminationas regards sexualorientationorHIVstatus,forexample,andthattheybeprominentlyplacedonthepost-2015agenda.PresidentTarjaHalonenandtheformerPresidentofMozambiqueJoaquimChissanoaretheco-chairsoftheTaskForce.

TheNordiccountriesareFinland’smostimportantreferencegroupinadvancingsexualandreproductivehealthandrights.DisarrayintheEUasregardsthistopicaccentuatestheneedtoseekpartnersfromothercountrygroupingsaswell.

FinlandisamongthelargestsupportersoftheUnitedNationsPopulationFund(UNFPA),bothpoliticallyandfinancially.Itplaysakeypartinimprovingthestatusofwomenandyouth,andinachievingsexualandreproductivehealthandrights.

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2.3 Supporting democratic institutions and the rule of law

MostUNmemberstateshavemajorchallengeswithregardtodemocracy.Sincehumanrightsandsustainabledevelopmentcanonlybecomeestablishedinademocracyitisimportantthattheworldorganisationsupportdemocracyandtheruleoflawinallofitsmemberstates.Finlandalsointendstostronglyraisethetopicoftheruleoflawontotheinternationalagendaconcerningdevelopment.Moreover,Finlandfocusesonlimitingimpunityforthemostseriouscrimesofconcerntotheinternationalcommunity.

Supporting democratic institutions and the rule of law in UN activities

InSeptember2012theGeneralAssemblyhelditsfirsthigh-levelmeetingontheruleoflaw.MrSauliNiinistö,thePresidentoftheRepublicofFinland,ledtheFinnishdelegationatthemeeting.Finlandpromotestheimplementationoftheoutcomedocument1ofthemeeting,supportsacomprehensivefollow-upprocessandactivelyparticipatesinassociatednegotiations.SupportingtheruleoflawmustbeaguidingprincipleinallactivitiesoftheUN,bothattheUNHeadquartersandatthefieldlevel.ThepledgesFinlandmadeatthemeetingconcernedthepreventionofviolenceagainstwomenandvariousformsofinternationalcooperation.

Finland’sobjectiveisthattheUNprogrammes,fundsandspecialisedagenciesitsupportsstrengthentheruleoflawaseffectivelyaspossibleandimproveaccesstolegalremediestothepoorestandmostvulnerablepeopleandgroups..TheGovernment’sDevelopmentPolicyProgrammesetstheframeworkforthisaction.Accesstolegalremediesdenotesanindividual’sprospectsofreceivingassistanceorrectificationwhenhisrightshavebeenviolated,orwhentheyhavenotbeenfullyrealised.Improvementsintheaccesstolegalremediesrequirethestrengtheningofdemocraticinstitutions:inpractice,onlydemocraticinstitutionscaneffectivelysafeguardtherightsthatbelongtoallpeople.

1DeclarationoftheHigh-levelMeetingoftheGeneralAssemblyontheRuleofLaw

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Instatesrecoveringfromconflict,orinfragilestates,supportmustfocusonstrengtheningsecurityandtrustbetweenthestateandthecivilsociety.Thestate’scapacitytoseetoitsbasicfunctionssuchasraisingrevenue,promotingemployment,providingbasicservicesorbeingabletorunawell-functioningandresponsiblejudicialandsecuritysectorarethekeyquestions.ComparedtoindividualdonorcountriestheUNcanoftenallocatemoreresourcestodemandingruleoflawprogrammeswhichrequireextensiveandcomplexcompetence.FinlandalsoseekscooperationpartnersthroughtheUNsystemandotherdonorsforprojectstobeimplementedinfragilestates.

More attention to the rule of law in the international development debate

Promotingdemocracy,theruleoflawandhumanrightsispartoftheUnitedNationsMillenniumDeclarationadoptedin2000.However,thethemeswerenotincludedintheMillenniumDevelopmentGoals.Thisthematichasnowgainedprominenceintheinternationaldebate,anditisincludedinthereportofthehigh-levelpanel2setbytheSecretary-General,publishedinMay2013.Finlandemphasisesthattheruleoflawisfoundedontherespectandimplementationofhumanandbasicrightsthatbelongtoallpeople.Thereisamutuallycomplementinglinkbetweentheruleoflawanddevelopment,asnotedintheoutcomedocumentofthehigh-levelmeetingoftheGeneralAssemblyontheruleoflawin2012.

Thelinkbetweentheruleoflawandguaranteedeffectiveandequitablepublicservicesandminimumsocialstandardsmustbeincreasinglytakenintoaccount.Verytangibleproblems,liketherenotbeingabirthcertificate,canpreventaccesstotherealisationofrightsandservicessuchaseducation,healthcareand,especially,participationindecision-making.

2High-levelPanelonthePost-2015DevelopmentAgenda

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Reducing impunity for the most serious crimes of concern to the international community

Achievingsustainablepeaceinareasrecoveringfromconflictdemandstherealisationofjustice.Eversincethe1990stheattitudestowardsthecultureof impunity for themostseriouscrimesofconcern tothe international communityhave changed.Finland regards thisdevelopmentveryimportant.Finlandstronglysupportedthefoundingof the InternationalCriminalCourt (ICC), and is nowa staunchchampionoftheCourt.FinlandhascooperatedwiththeadhocwarcrimetribunalsestablishedbytheUNandprovidedvoluntaryfundingtotheso-calledhybridtribunals.Finlandcontinuesitssupporttothereductionofimpunity.

TheRomeStatuteoftheInternationalCriminalCourtassignstheUNSecurityCouncilcertainpowers.AlongwiththeICC’sproceedingsthechallengesassociatedwiththerelationshipbetweenanindependentcourtoflawandapoliticalactorhavebecomeaccentuated.FinlandregardsthattheSecurityCouncilmustbeasconsistentaspossiblewhenassigningcasestotheICC.Consequently,theSecurityCouncilmustalsomonitorthemasefficientlyaspossible.FinlandalsoendeavourstoincreaseAfrica’ssupporttotheICC,wheremanycountriesarestatepartiestotheStatute.

States shoulder the primary responsibility for investigating,prosecutingandsentencingthemostseriouscrimesofconcerntotheinternationalcommunity.Therefore,itisimportanttopayattentiontotheindependence,effectivenessandcapacityofnationalcriminaljusticesystems.Statesarealsoresponsibleforthepreventionofcrime,includingassociatedeffectiveaction.FinlandunderscoresthecentralroleofUNactorsintheseefforts.

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2.4 Eradicating extreme poverty, reducing inequality and promoting environmental sustainability

PursuanttotheGovernment’sDevelopmentPolicyProgrammethe“overarchinggoalofFinland’sdevelopmentpolicyistheeradicationofextremepoverty…inaccordancewiththeUNMillenniumDevelopmentGoals”.WhileremarkableresultshavebeenachievedinthereductionofpovertyindevelopingcountriesduringthisMillennium,alltoomanypeoplestillexistwithoutadequatelivelihoods,thebasicnecessitiesoflife,socialsecurityortheopportunitiestoparticipateasfully-fledgedmembersofsociety.Theeradicationofextremepovertymustalsoremainapriorityareainthepost-2015agendaoftheUN.

Theresultsofpovertyeradicationareunevenlydividedbetweenandwithincountries.Thereductionofinequalityhasbecomeanincreasinglyimportanttopicasregardsachievingfairandsustainabledevelopmentthatpromotesstability.Finlandconsidersitnecessarytopayincreasingattentiontothisdimensioninpromotingsustainabledevelopment,includingthepost-2015developmentgoals.ItmustalsobetakenintoaccountinthefieldactivitiesoftheUN.

TheUNisaveryimportantforumfortheadvancementofFinland’sdevelopmentpolicygoals.InadditiontoitsglobalnormativerolethefundschannelledthroughUNbodiesconcretelyadvanceFinland’sdevelopmentpolicygoalsandthespearheadthemesofthisUNStrategy,undertheguidanceoftheDevelopmentPolicyProgramme.

WithintheUNFinlandworkstowardstheintegrationofthedimensionsofsustainabledevelopment,strivingforaneconomically,sociallyandenvironmentallysustainablefuture.TheoutcomedocumentoftheRio+20ConferenceestablishesthecreationofSustainableDevelopmentGoals.Concurrently,theworkonthepost-2015developmentagendafollowingtheMDGshasbegun.FinlandconsidersitimportantthattheprocessofsettingSustainableDevelopmentGoalsandthatthepost-2015developmentagendabebroughttogetherandresultinasinglesetof

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universalgoals,whichcoverinabalancedwaythethreedimensionsofsustainabledevelopment:theeconomic,socialandenvironmentaldimensions.Theaimistoestablishaframeworkofgoalsandtargetsforallcountrieswhichstrivesfortheeradicationofpovertywithinplanetaryboundaries.

Finland’spriorities in thecomingyears include theattainmentofasolidpost-2015developmentagendasoastoadvancesustainabledevelopment,securingthefinancingbaseforsustainabledevelopment,increasingtheefficiencyandeffectivenessofoperationalfield-leveldevelopmentactivitiesoftheUN,developinghumanitarianassistance,environmentalprotection,climatechangemitigationandadaptationaswellasmanagingnaturalresourcesinasustainableandpropermanner.

A sound and comprehensive post-2015 development agenda as a goal

TheMillenniumDevelopmentGoalsunitedthedevelopmenteffortsoftheinternationalcommunityandcreatedacommonsetofprogressmeasurementtools.ThemostimportantdevelopmentpolicyprocessforthecomingyearsinvolvestheUN-ledreviewofMDGsandtheadoptionofnewgoals.

WithintheUNFinlandworkstowardstheintegrationofthedimensionsofsustainabledevelopment,strivingforaneconomically,sociallyandenvironmentallysustainablefuture.Theaimistoestablishaframeworkofgoalsandtargetsforallcountrieswhichstrivesfortheeradicationofpovertywithinplanetaryboundaries.ImportantgoalsfromFinland’sviewpointareincludedinthereportofthehigh-levelpanelsetbytheSecretary-General,publishedinMay2013.TheSecretary-GeneralwillpresenthisreporttotheGeneralAssemblyintheautumnof2013.

Thegoalsoftheframeworkshouldbelimitedinnumber,measurableandeasytocommunicate.Theyshouldtakeintoaccountthelevelofdevelopmentandtheinternalsituationsintherespectivecountries.StronglocalownershipindevelopingcountriesisanimportantfactorforFinlandwhenthenewgoalsarebeingnegotiatedandimplemented.

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InthenewframeworkFinlandemphasisesthecentralthemesofitsdevelopmentpolicywhichalsoincludethespearheadthemesintheUNStrategy.FinlandadvancestheseobjectivesespeciallythroughtheEU,togetherwiththeotherNordiccountries,byestablishingdifferentpartnershipsand,whennecessary,onanationalbasis.

Inaddition,thefutureframeworkshouldincludetopicsrelatedtohumanrights,includingsexualandreproductivehealthandrights,democracyandtheruleoflawaswellasotherstructuresinsociety.Itshouldalsoreduceinequality,promotegenderequalityandtakeintoaccounttheneedsofvulnerablegroups.Developmentshouldalsoaddressissuesrelatedtopeaceandsecurity,andconflictsandviolence.

Finland’sdevelopmentperspectivealsoencompassesseveralotherobjectiveswhichentail,interalia,sustainablemanagementofnaturalresources,bettermobilisationoflocalresourcesindevelopingcountriesandincreasedcorporatesocialresponsibilityindevelopingcountries.Finlandalsostrivesforabetterconsiderationofwaterandsanitationissues,includingtheirlinkstoothersectorssuchasenergy,foodsafetyandhealth.Thefuturedevelopmentagendashouldalsotakeintoaccountpolicycoherencefordevelopment.

Strengthening the financing base for sustainable development

Finlandhascommittedtoincreaseitsdevelopmentfundingto0.7%ofthegrossnationalincome(GNI)by2015.SimultaneouslyFinlandendorsesactionwhichexpandsthefinancingbaseinawaythatmakesfinancialresourcesincreasinglyavailablealongwiththeOfficialDevelopmentAssistance(ODA).AsitspointofdepartureFinlandbelievesthatitisimportantto:boostthepartnercountries’owndomesticresourcesthrough,amongotherthings,internationaltradeandinvestments;todevelopnationaltaxationsystemsandtaxrevenuecollection;andtotackleunregulatedcapitalflight.Thegoalistoputanendtotheaiddependencyofdevelopingcountries.InordertoincreasedomesticfundingFinlandsupportsthetradingcapacityofdevelopingcountriesandinvestmentenvironmentreform.Inaddition,Finlandadvances

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public-privatepartnershipsandtheintroductionofnew,innovativefinancinginstruments.FinlandcontinuestopresentthethemesofwiderdevelopmentfinancingatdifferentUNforainotherwaysaswell.

Finlandemphasisesthesignificanceofsustainableandaccountablebusinessinvestmentsincreatingeconomicandsocialdevelopment,andsupportstheworkforaninternationalinvestmentregime.WithintheframeworkoftheHelsinkiProcessFinlandcontinuesthemulti-stakeholderdialogueitlaunchedwithregardtoquestionsassociatedwiththeinvestmentregime.

FinlandfocusesattentiononinternationaltaxationquestionsintheUNaswell,includingassociatednegativephenomena(illicitfinancialflows,taxhavensandtransferpricingissues).Finlandalsoactivelypursuessolutions,amongotherthings,fortheexpansionofthefinancingbaseforsustainabledevelopment.FinlandislookingforwaystostrengthentheroleandfunctionsoftheUNtaxcommittee3.

Making operational development cooperation more efficient and effective

InaccordancewiththeGovernmentProgrammeFinlandwillenhanceitsinvolvementinandcontributiontomultilateralcooperationandactwithintheminamoregoal-orientedandstrategicmanner.FundingwillbeconcentratedinthoseorganisationsandfinancinginstitutionswhichcangeneratethebestpossibleresultsinFinland’sdevelopmentcooperation priority areas. The strategic analysis ofmultilateraldevelopmentcooperation,commissionedbytheMinistryforForeignAffairs(MFA),willbeusedinsupportofthisprocess.WieldinginfluenceinUNspecialisedagencies,fundsandprogrammeswillbesharpenedthroughspecialstrategies.Likewise,influencingwillalsobestrengthenedindevelopmentbanks. Finland’sobjective is fororganisations tooperateaseffectivelyaspossibletowardstheeradicationofpovertyandreductionofinequality.Finlandalsohighlightstheprinciplesofeffectivemanagementandaccountability.

3UnitedNationsCommitteeofExpertsonInternationalCooperationinTaxMatters

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The capacity of the UN to alleviate human suffering in disasters is improving

TheUNhastheleadingroleincoordinatinghumanitarianassistance.InordertoeffectivelydeliverhumanitarianaidtothosewhoneedittheUN-ledinternationalhumanitarianassistancesystemmustbesuitablypreparedandwell-coordinated.Inthefuturemoreattentionmustbepaidtogoodmanagement,thequalityofpartnerships,theassessmentofeffectivenessandaccountability,andpromotingthesmoothcooperationoftheentireUNsystemduringdisasters.

Finlandchannelsthelion’sshareofitshumanitarianassistanceinaconcentratedmannerthroughtheUNsystem.InaccordancewiththeprinciplesofgoodhumanitariandonorshipFinlandhighlightstheimportanceofmultilateralcooperation,andtheprimacyoftheUNsystemasahumanitarianactor.Finlandactivelyendorsesthesystem-widereformsinUNhumanitarianassistancetomakeitmoreeffective.Finland’sgoalistoguaranteethehumanity,impartiality,neutralityandindependenceofhumanitarianassistanceevenwhenmilitaryandcivildefenceresourcesarebeingusedinsupportofhumanitarianmissions.ThemostimportantchannelforwieldinginfluenceisFinland’sdirectparticipationontheboardsofUNbodiesthatimplementhumanitarianassistance.

Protecting the environment, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and sustainable and proper management of natural resources

Thereisaclearlinkbetweenpovertyeradicationandthestateoftheenvironment.Thelivelihoodsandfoodsecurityof70percentoftheworld’spoordirectlydependonbiodiversityandecosystemservices.Thepoorestarethefirsttosufferfromthedecliningstateoftheenvironment,forexamplebecauseofdeterioratingfoodsecurityornaturaldisasters.

In theUNFinland endorses the developing countries’ efforts inintegratingenvironmentalsustainabilityrequirementsandglobalenvironmentalchallengesintotheirowndevelopmentplanswhich

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areneededforatransformationtowardsaninclusiveandjob-creatinggreeneconomy,humanwell-beingandsocialequality.

Climate changemitigation and adaptation are fateful issues forhumankind.Failingtomitigateclimatechangecanendangerallsocialanddevelopmentgoals.FinlandactivelyandconstructivelypursuesabettercapacityfortheUNandtheinternationalsysteminachievingthenecessaryresultsinclimatetalks.Finlandpromotestheinclusionofthelinkagebetweenclimatechangeandgenderissuesinthefutureclimateagreement.

IntheUNFinlandattemptstorespondtoglobalenvironmentalthreats,andespecially,climatechange,lossofbiodiversityanddesertificationby,interalia,applyinganecosystem-basedapproachinclimatechangeadaptation.Finlandsignificantlysupportsinternationalenvironmentalfunding,includingclimatefunding.

SustainableandglobalenergysolutionsarekeydevelopmentquestionsinwhichtheUNmustplayanimportantrole.ThroughtheUNsystemFinlandcontributestosustainableaccesstorenewablesaswellasenergyandmaterialefficiency.

Thesustainableandpropermanagementofnaturalresourcesisacentraldevelopmenttopic.Thesustainableuseofnaturalresourcescanpermanentlyextricatedevelopingcountriesfrompoverty.Itisimperativetofacilitatetheequitabledistributionofthebenefitsofnaturalresources,sothattheentiresocietyprofitsfromthedevelopment.ThroughtheUNsystemFinlandpromotesthemeansforlivelihoodoflocalcommunities,indigenouspeoplesanddifferentminorities,aswellastheirprospectsforparticipatingindecision-makingontheuseandmanagementofnaturalresources.

ItisinFinland’sintereststobringforththroughtheUNsystemthedevelopmentprospectsforallcountriesmadeavailablebyagreenandinclusiveeconomy,andtoespeciallyletthedevelopingcountriesbenefitfromit.

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Finlandalsoemphasises the importanceandroleof forestsat thelocalandregionallevel,amongotherthings,asthebasefordiverseagricultureandfoodsecurity,andglobalbenefitsstemmingfrom,amongotherthings,theprotectionofbiodiversityandcombatingclimatechange.Theadverseeffectsofpoorwatersupplyandsanitationareextensive.Finlandactivelypromotesandsupportstheachievementofthesanitationtargetbythe2015deadline.

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APPENDICES

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APPENDIX 1: AN OVERVIEW OF FINLAND’S ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE FRAMEWORk OF THE UN

INTERNATIONAL OPERATING ENVIRONMENT IN FLUX

TheUnitedNations(UN)istheonlyinternationalorganisationwhosemembershipencompassesalmostallofthestatesoftheworld,andwhosescopeofactivitiesiswide-ranginginthedifferentsectorsofinternationalcooperation.Furthermore,theesteemandapprovaloftheUNanditsworkhasremainedatahighlevelamongthememberstatesandtheircitizens.

SecurityisacentralfunctionoftheUN,bothinthenarrowsense(authorisingtheuseofforce)–andinthewidersense(humansecuritywithallofitsdimensions).Theinternationalenvironment’stransformationbringsnewchallengestotheUNsystem.Thetransformationisaffected,interalia,bygreatpowerrelations,theemergenceofneweconomicandpoliticalhubsfromwithinthecadreofdevelopingcountries,andnewglobalsecuritythreats.Alongwithtraditionalpeacekeepingoperations,developmentandhumanrightstaskstheUNisexpectedtoprovideanswersandresponsestoproblemssuchasclimatechange,thespreadofcommunicablediseases, terrorism,crime,naturaldisastersandmigrationwhich,inthewidersense,areassociatedwithsecurityandsustainabledevelopment.Atthesametime,internationalcooperationisfragmented.EventhoughstateshaveremainedtheprimaryactorsintheUNsystem–aprinciplewhichispredominatelyemphasisedbymanydevelopingcountries–thecloutofprivateactors(companies,organisations,funds)hasincreasedspecificallyinthedevelopment

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policysector,whileatthesametimegrowthinpublicdevelopmentcooperationfinancinghasstalled.Mostpoorpeople today live indevelopingstates,whichisanindicatorofunbalancedeconomicgrowth.Owingtorapidpopulationgrowthapproximatelyonehalfoftheworld’spopulationisunder30yearsofage.Youngpeopleareaconsiderableresource,andtheirpotentialandneedsmustbetakenintoaccountinpublicdecision-making.Fragilestates,sufferingfromconflictandunderdevelopment,poseaspecialchallengetotheUNsystem,asthevastmajorityoftheworld’sconflictsthesedaysoccurwithinstates,ratherthanbetweenthem.

InorderfortheUNtobeabletomeetthesenewchallengesitsstructuresandpracticesmustbe improvedandremodelled. Inpractice thistranslatesintoareform,onewhichwillnotberealisedwithoutthecommonpoliticaldesireofthememberstatesoftheUN.ThestrongestpressureforreformisdirectedatthecompositionoftheSecurityCouncil.Theindustrialisedcountries,havinglongdominatedtheUN,havehadtofacethefactthattheycannolongerinfluencedecisionsthewaytheydidbefore,forexampleonhumanrightsmattersortheenvironmentalpolicysector.Atthesametimethedevelopingcountriesaredemandingmoreoptionsforparticipation,especially intheSecurityCouncil.Correspondingly,strongerpoliticalandeconomiccontributionintheattemptstosolveglobalchallengesisaskedfromtheemergingcountries.So,inordertomeetthenew,shared,globalchallengesthecollectivemembershipoftheUNmustachieveconsensusontheorganisation’sfuturestructures,directionandrequiredresources.ShouldtheUNfailtomeetthesenewchallengesbecauseofinternaldiscordorinsufficientresources,theorganisationriskslosingitsimportanceandauthority.AnothergoodreasonforstrengtheningtheUNisthefactthatvarioussmallergroupingsexcludealargenumberoftheworld’snations,whichdiminishestheirdemocraticrepresentativeness.

OfthenewactorstheGroupofTwenty(G20)hasspearheadedthepursuit of stabilisationof theworld economyand especially theinternationalfinancialmarketsaftertheyfellintoacrisisintheautumnof2008.ThePittsburghSummitinSeptember2009helpedconsolidate

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theroleoftheG20,andtheparticipantsdesignatedtheGroupasthepremierforumforinternationaleconomiccooperation.Inpractice,theG20hasprovedtobeimportanttothedevelopmentofinternationalcooperation,toformingitsagendaandpositions.TheGroupoperatesunderarotatingpresidency,andthepreparationandimplementationofmattersdependontheactionofitsmemberstatesandcooperationwithinternationalorganisationsindifferentsectors.

The GroupofEight(G8),representingthetraditionallargeindustrialisedcountries,hascontinueditswork.Nowadaysitalsoaddressesquestionsrelatedtointernationalpeaceandsecurityandhumanrights.TheGroup ofFive(G5)(Brazil,SouthAfrica,India,ChinaandMexico)hascomealongsidetheG8.TheBRICScountries(Brazil,Russia,India,ChinaandSouthAfrica)continuetoraisetheirprofile:themainthemesoftheirmeetingshaveincludedtheprospectsoftheglobaleconomy,theneedtoreformfinancinginstitutionsandtheintensificationofcooperationbetweenemergingcountries.

Somenon-G20memberstatesoftheUNhavewantedtopromotebetterinteractionandavoidunnecessaryduplicationbetweentheG20andtheUN,andotherinternationalorganisations:indoingsotheyhaveinvokedtherecommendationsofthe2011report‘Governanceforgrowth’putforthbyDavidCameron,PrimeMinisteroftheUnitedKingdom,amongothers.Approximately30countriesrepresentingdifferentgroupsandcontinentsbelongtotheopenandinformalGlobalGovernanceGroup(3G).TheSingapore-led3GoperatesinconjunctionwiththepermanentmissionsoperatinginNewYork.FinlandjoinedtheGroupinSeptember2011.TheGroupactivelymonitorsquestionsassociatedwithglobalgovernanceandaimsatstrengtheningtheroleoftheUNinsuchissues.TheGrouphasgivenjointstatementsandissuedpressannouncements.

The EuropeanUnion(EU)isthekeychannelofinfluenceinFinland’sUNpolicy.TheEU’sCommonForeignandSecurityPolicy(CFSP)hasevolvedandchangedintheaftermathoftheLisbonTreaty’sentryintoforce.Nonetheless,theCFSPhasnotdevelopedinthewayFinlandhadhoped.ThisrelatesparticularlytotheEU’sactionintheUN.Since

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theEUisoneofthestrongestsupportersanddonorsoftheUN,moredeterminedleadershipcouldbeexpectedofitintheUN.This,however,requiresawillingnessoftheEU’sMemberStatestogivevisibilityandaprominentroletotheEUindifferentUNvenues.Thestrengtheningofglobalgovernanceandmultilateralcooperation,andnewstrategicpartnershipsareincreasinglyimportanttotheEU’sexternalrelationsaswell.

Nordic cooperation inUN-relatedmattersaimsatadvancing thecountries’ common values and their influence. This cooperationcontinuesandimprovesbetweentheNordiccapitalsandinUNcities.Thereisadesiretocultivateandintensifythesharedvaluebase,tappingintothetraditionalresourcesofNordiccooperation.

FINLAND AND THE UN

Finland,asamemberstateoftheUN,iscommittedtothegoalsoftheUNCharter.FinlandregardstheUNasthemostimportantinstrumentofglobalmultilateralcooperationandwantstostrengthenitsroleandcapabilitiesasregardsbettermanagementofglobalisation.ThisbasicpremisedescribingFinland’sactionintheUNismentionedintheGovernmentProgramme.Thesectionthatdescribesforeign,securityanddefencepolicystatesthefollowing:

“The United Nations is the cornerstone of the global multilateral system and cooperation… The Government works to improve the UN’s legitimacy and capacity to act. Finland pursues a proactive UN policy and will invest in crisis prevention and peace-building in particular, as well as in the promotion of human rights and the rule of law.”

UNactionrestsonthreepillars:peaceandsecurity,developmentandhumanrights.TheguidelinesrelatedtothesesectorsarealsogivenintheGovernmentProgramme.

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“The aim of Finland’s foreign policy is to strengthen international stability, security, peace, justice and sustainable development as well as promote the rule of law, democracy and human rights.

Participation in crisis management missions supports the restoration of security and stability in crisis situations, while strengthening our own defence capability and enhancing Finland’s weight in international politics… Finland also emphasises the participation of women in crisis management and peacebuilding… Finland will also devote particular attention to civilian crisis management... The Government will develop Finland’s contribution to international peace mediation activities and crisis prevention.

Development policy is a key element of a coherent and comprehensive foreign and security policy. Poverty reduction and the achievement of the UN millennium development goals (MDGs), placing an emphasis on partner countries’ needs and ownership, are the first priorities of the development policy... The Government’s goal is to ensure stable development of appropriations, leading to the target level 0.7% share of GDP and meeting Finland’s international commitments.

In its own development cooperation, Finland emphasises the rule of law, democracy, human rights and sustainable development… In these activities, Finland builds on its strengths in the educational sector, health promotion, communications and environmental technology, and good governance.”

ItisinFinland’sintereststobolstertheUN’scapabilitytoactandtoactivelyparticipateinreformingtheUN,inaccordancewithFinland’snationalgoalsandasaMemberStateoftheEU.Thisnew,revisedUNStrategy,whichbuildsontheGovernmentProgramme,endeavourstostrengthentheeffectivenessofFinland’sUNpolicyandupdatethegoalspresentedintheUNStrategyoftheMinistryforForeignAffairsofFinland,adoptedin2008.Thegoalswereupdatedpartlybecauseofthetransformationintheinternationaloperatingenvironment,mentionedinthepreviouschapter,andbecauseofthedevelopmentwithinthe

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UNsystem.Likewise,theGovernmentreportsonforeignandsecuritypolicy(2012)andhumanrightspolicy,theHumanRightsStrategyandtheDevelopmentPolicyProgramme(2012)steerthedecision-makingasregardsthemainagendaofFinland’sUNpolicy.TheguidelinesandgoalsintheDevelopmentPolicyProgrammeprovidethecentralframeworkforthetargetingofFinland’sdevelopmentcooperationfunding.TheUNStrategysupportsandcomplementsthesesteeringdocuments.

FINLAND’S ACTIVITIES AND GOALS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORk OF THE UN

ThepointofdepartureforFinland’sUNpolicyisthecloseinterrelationshipofpeaceandsecurity,humanrightsanddevelopment.Noneofthemcanseparatelymaterialiseinasustainablemanner.Finlandconsidersitimportantthatpeaceandsecurity,humanrightsanddevelopmentbeeven-handedlydevelopedandresourcedintheUN.ThisapproachisalsoinlinewiththeUnitedNationsMillenniumDeclarationandthe2005WorldSummitOutcome.

The GovernmentSecurityandDefencePolicyReport(2012)notestheimpactofthechangesinthesecurityenvironmenttoglobalgovernanceandtheeffortstochangethestructuresoftheinternationalsystem.Thesignificanceofcommonlyacceptedrulesandproceduresisgrowing,andtheimportanceoftheUnitedNations(UN)asthesoleworldorganisationisaccentuated.TheUNSecurityCouncilhasacentralroleinauthorisinguniversallybindinginternationaldecisions.

TheGovernment’sDevelopmentPolicyProgrammealsostatesthatFinlandhighlights the comprehensive concept of securitywhichstrengthenstheinterrelationshipofstability,security,peace,justiceandsustainabledevelopment,theruleoflaw,democracyandhumanrights.

ThegoalsofFinland’sUNpolicyinthisnarrativearepresentedasthreedistinctentities:1) peace and security, 2) international development issues, and 3) promoting human rights and the rule of law.

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Inaddition,internationallaw,humanitarianassistance,actionwithinthemostimportantUNspecialisedagenciesandUNreformappearasdistinctelements.

Peace and security

Conflict prevention, military and civilian crisis management,peacebuildinganddevelopmentcooperationformacontinuum,inthedifferentstagesofwhichtheUNmustapplythebestpossibleapproachesandinstrumentsthatsuitthesituationathand.

Finlandsupportsthecomprehensiveapproach,widelyacceptedintheUN,inwhichconflictpreventioniscloselyassociatedwithpeacebuildinganddevelopment.FinlandadvocatesthedevelopmentofUNstructuresthatfocusonconflictprevention,includingthestrengtheningoftheirnormativebase.FinlandunderscorestheimportanceofcooperationbetweentheUNandregionalorganisationsinconflictprevention.Thisapplies,interalia,toEU-UNcooperationinthesectorofpeaceandsecurity,andtothecapabilitiesofregionalorganisationsinsolvingsecurity-relatedissuesintheirrespectiveregions,suchasinAfrica.

Influencing the Security Council

WhenitcomestoquestionsrelatedtointernationalpeaceandsecuritytheSecurityCouncilisthemostimportantdecision-makingbody.Whennecessary,theCouncilcanauthorisepeacemakingortheuseofforcetopreventsituationsthatendangerpeace.InpracticetheSecurityCouncil’scapabilitytoactdependsonthecollectivepoliticalresolveofitsmembers–especiallyitspermanentmembers.Thisresolveispronetovacillation,exemplifiedbythecivilwarinSyriawhichbeganin2011:theSecurityCouncilhasfailedintheattemptstoresolvethecrisis.

DespitedeterminedeffortsFinlandwasnotelectedasanon-permanentmemberoftheSecurityCouncilinOctober2012.Finlandintendstocontinueitsactiveparticipationasregardsquestionsbeingaddressed

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intheSecurityCouncil,withintherealmofpossibilitiesawardedtonon-SecurityCouncilmembers.Finlandsupportsthefamiliarisationofnon-permanentmembersintothepracticesoftheSecurityCouncil;Finland’sUNmissioninNewYorkarrangesannualseminarsonthis.Finlandintendstostandfornon-permanentmembershipintheSecurityCouncilalsointhefuture.

TheSecurityCouncildoesnotonlydealwithdecisionsrelatedtotheuseofforce.TheCouncilisalsoapermanentchannelfordiplomatictalksandcontacts;itexpressesthestandsoftheinternationalcommunitythroughitsstatements,launchespeacekeepingmissionsandimposessanctions.TheresolutionsoftheCouncil,manyofwhicharelegallybindingtothememberstates,impactallcountries.WithregardtoregionalquestionstheworkoftheCouncilaffects,interalia,thedecisionstakenundertheauspicesoftheEU’sCFSP,forexample,bywayofoperationsthatsupportthepeacekeepingoperationsoftheEUortheUN.Therefore,alsoFinlandmustcloselymonitortheworkoftheCouncilandinfluenceitwhenitcomestoissuesimportanttoFinland.

TheCouncilcontinuallyorganisesopendebatesontopicalissuesrelatedtointernationalpeaceandsecurity.Finlandparticipatesinthesedebatesthroughhigh-levelnationalrepresentationorincooperationwiththeotherNordiccountriesthroughjointNordicstatementsorviatheEU.Forexample,themessuchas’Women,PeaceandSecurity’,theprotectionofcivilians,counter-terroristactionandthepreventionofproliferationofWeaponsofMassDestructionaretopicsaddressedbytheSecurityCouncilonwhichFinlandalreadypossessesexpertiseandcredibilityaccruedthroughotheractivities.FinlandapplaudsthedevelopmentinrecentyearsinaccordancewithwhichtheSecurityCouncilwillalsohandlethematicsecurityissuesduringitssessions.ThroughaneffectivenetworkofrelationshipsFinlandcanalsodirectlyinfluencethemembersoftheSecurityCouncil–aboveallwhenSCResolutionsarebeingprepared.

SanctionsareacentralelementintheworkoftheSecurityCouncilinmaintainingandrestoringpeaceandsecurity.Internationalsanctions

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regimesareconstantlybeingdevelopedandFinlandparticipatesinandinfluencesthisactivitytogetherwithlike-mindedcountries,andthroughtheEU.Finlandhasespeciallywantedtoensurethattheaspectsassociatedwiththeprotectionoflawandlegalsafeguardsareadequatelytakenintoaccountininternationalsanctionspolicy.

FinlandhighlightsthesignificanceofthecapacityandefficiencyoftheSecurityCouncilinsolvinginternationalcrises.FinlandsupportsSecurityCouncilreformandpositivelyregardsincreasingtheSecurityCouncil’spermanentmembershipwithAfricancountries,forexample.However,Finlanddoesnotsupportanextensionoftherightofveto.When it comes to theCouncil’sworkingmethodsFinland,aboveall,emphasisesthesignificanceofpreventiveactionandincreasingtransparencyintheCouncil.FinlandbelievesthatthecontactsbetweentheCouncilanddifferentUNactors(e.g.theHighCommissionerforHumanRights),theInternationalCriminalCourt(ICC)andregionalorganisationsmustbefurtherdeveloped.

• FinlandinfluencestheworkoftheSecurityCouncilbydirectlyparticipatingintheCouncil’sopendiscussionsatahighlevelaswellasthroughtheNordicCountriesortheEU.Furthermore,FinlandinfluencesthemembersoftheSCthroughbilateralcommunication.

• Finlandconcentratesonthemesinwhichitpossessesexpertiseandcredibility.

• FinlandparticipatesinthedebateonSCreform,andendeavourstopromotetheCouncil’sefficiencyandtransparency.

• Finlandcontinuestoorganiseannualorientationworkshopsfornewly-electedmembersoftheSecurityCouncil.

• Finlandintendstostandfornon-permanentmembershipintheSecurityCouncilalsointhefuture.

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Mediation

InrecentyearsmediationhasacquirednewfoundstandinginthecoreofUNaction;Finlandhasplayedaprominentroleinthis.OnthejointinitiativeofFinlandandTurkey,inthesummerof2011theGeneralAssemblyunanimouslyadoptedthefirsteverresolutiononmediationintheUNsystem,whichstrengthenedthestatusofmediationintheUNandclarifiedtheroleoftheUNinrelationtootheractorsinthefieldofmediation.AtthesametimeithelpedinstitutionaliseFinland’sownmediationactivities.Finland’sActionPlanonMediation,publishedin2011,presentsconcretemeansandgoalsforFinlandtobolsteritsmediationexpertise.MediationisalsooneofthepriorityareasinFinland’sUNpolicywhichwillreceiveconsiderableattentioninthefuture.

TheUNisaveryimportantmediatorandastrongactorindevelopinganormativeandinstitutionalbaseformediation.ChapterVIoftheUNCharterlaysthefoundationformediationandthegoodofficesoftheSecretary-General.ThroughitsownactivitiesFinlandendeavourstofurtherimprovethemediationcapacityoftheUN,includingthepoliticalandfinancialsupportbestowedbyitsmemberstates.

ThefirstresolutiononmediationstrengthenedtheprinciplesofUNmediationsupportandpromotedthedevelopmentofcoordinationandcooperationbetweentheUN, itsmemberstatesandregionalorganisations.TheSecretary-General’sreportontheimplementationof the resolutionandespecially itsannex ‘Guidance forEffectiveMediation’createexcellentgroundworkonwhichtorely.Thefollow-onresolutionwhichraisedmediationtothepermanentagendaoftheGeneralAssemblywasadoptedinSeptember2012.

TheGroupofFriendsofMediationfoundedintheautumnof2010ontheinitiativeofFinlandandTurkeydevelopsandmakesinternationalmediationmorevisible,particularlyintheUNandamongregionalorganisations.TheGroupbringstogethernewandoldcountriesthathaveexperienceorinterestinmediationforthepurposeofsharing

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lessons learnedandbestpractices aswell as to intensifymutualcooperation.TheGroupalreadyencompassesnearly40states,theUNand7regionalorganisations.Particularlyprominentonitspresentagendaarethestrengtheningofthefinancingbaseofmediationandtheconsolidationofresources.FinancialcontributionstoUNmediationaregivenonavoluntarybaseatpresent.Finlandisoneofthebiggestdonorsofthisactivity.

TheGroupmainlyconvenesinNewYorkattheambassadorialandexpertlevel.TheGroup’sministerialmeetingsareregularlyorganisedduringtheweekofthehigh-levelmeetingsoftheGeneralAssembly.TheGroup’snetworkofFocalPointsinthecapitalsofthemembersprovidesanimportantlinkbetweentheUNlevelandthenationallevel.

FinlandsupportstheworkoftheMediationSupportUnit(MSU),whichwasestablishedin2006.TheMSUsteersmediation-relatedactivitiesintheUN.TheMSUisthecentralhubofplanning,developingandimplementingmediationwithintheUnitedNationssystem.ItalsomaintainsaStandbyTeamofMediationExperts.Finland’ssupporttotheMSUhasbeenfocused,interalia,onbackingtheStandbyTeamandstrengtheningtheroleofwomeninmediation.Furthermore,Finland’sdevelopmentcooperationfundshavebeenusedtosponsoraJuniorProfessionalOfficertotheMSU.

TheUNcontinuestopromotemediationalongwiththeactivitiesoftheGroupofFriendsofMediation,amongotherthings,byfocusingasmuchattentionaspossibleonthemandatesofUNoperationsandSpecialRepresentativesoftheUNfromthestandpointofmediation.Inparticulartheroleofwomeninpeaceprocessesandappointingwomenasmediatorsmustbeincreased,andtheimplementationofSCResolution1325‘Women,PeaceandSecurity’mustbeintensified.Finland,togetherwiththeMSUandtheMinistryofForeignAffairsofNorway,supportsthe‘GenderandMediation’high-levelseminars,whichisintendedtoincludethegenderperspectiveinallpeaceprocesses.FinlandalsohopestobeabletohaveFinnsinmediationtasksandasspecialrepresentativeswithintheUNsystem.

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In itsmediationactivitiesFinlandpromotes solutions that createsustainablepeacebyhominginonthecausesofconflict.Finlandpaysparticularattentiontothedevelopmentoffragilestatesduringthefirstfewyearsthatfollowapeaceagreement.

• Finland, togetherwith Turkey and the Group of Friends ofMediation,continuestobeactiveinthefieldofmediationintheUN.

• FinlandsupportsthestrengtheningofmediationintheUN.TheGroupofFriendsofMediationcangenerateadditionalguidance,organisehigh-leveleventsandmaintainanactivedebateontheprospectsandchallengesofmediation.

• FinlandcontinuesitsfundingtotheMSU,anddevelopspossiblenewformsofcooperation,forexampleintraining.

• Finlandstrivesforamoreversatilefinancingbaseformediation:inadditiontothewesternindustrialisednations,othercountriestooshouldprovidevoluntaryfinancingtoit.Thelong-termgoalistomakefinancingapartoftheUN’sregularbudget.

• Finlandalsocontinuesitssupporttootherinternationalactors,especiallytoregionalorganisations,andpromotestheircooperationwithintheframeworkoftheGroupofFriendsofMediation.

• FinlandworkscloselywiththeotherNordiccountriestopromotemediation.AnexampleofthisistheNordicmediationnetwork.

Responsibility to Protect

TheResponsibilitytoProtect(R2P)iswritteninthepoliticaldeclarationissuedbythememberstatesof theUN,accordingtowhich‘eachindividualStatehastheresponsibilitytoprotectitspopulationsfromgenocide,warcrimes,ethniccleansingandcrimesagainsthumanity’,andthatthe‘internationalcommunityshould,asappropriate,encourageStatestoexercisethisresponsibility…andbepreparedtotakecollective

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action’.Inthe2005WorldSummitOutcometheGeneralAssemblyadoptedtheResponsibilitytoProtectasanoverarchingconcept,limitingitsapplicationtotheaforementionedcrimes.

TheResponsibilitytoProtectisapoliticalconcept,ratherthanalegalone.InthelegalsensetheR2PrelatestothealreadyexistingpowersandobligationsoftheUNmemberstates.AnyaddedvaluethattheR2PbringscanbeassessedbyhowwellitmotivatestheSecurityCounciltomaketimelydecisionsandstrengthenthereadinessofstatesforcooperationinpreventingthecrimesundertheumbrellaoftheconcept.TheResponsibilitytoProtectisstillasomewhatcontroversialconcept,especiallyamongcountriesthatemphasisethesovereigntyofstates,butitssignificanceasthecentralnormofinternationalpoliticscontinuestogrow.

FinlandsupportstheconsolidationoftheResponsibilitytoProtectandtheputtingofitintopracticebothnationallyandinternationally.IntheimplementationoftheR2PFinlandlaysemphasisonprevention.Strengtheningthecivilsocietyandthestructuresassociatedwiththeruleoflaw,promotinghumanrightsandtakingbetteraccountofanalysesgeneratedbyhumanrightsbodiesplayacentralroleinthis.FinlanddeemsitimportanttodispelthesuspicionsandmisunderstandingsassociatedwiththeR2P.TheResponsibilitytoProtectisoftenviewedtoonarrowly,solelythroughtheperspectiveofmilitaryintervention.ItisimportanttohighlightthatthemilitarydimensionisonlyoneofR2P’sdimensions,thatpreventativeactionsaretheR2P’sprimarymission,andthattheR2Pprinciplehasnotexpandedthecriteriafortherighttouseforce.

FinlandcloselymonitorsthedevelopmentoftheResponsibilitytoProtect.TheSecretary-GeneraloftheUNissuesannualreportsontheR2P.Finlandstrivestoaffectthecontentofthereportduringtheearlystagesofdrafting,andactivelyparticipatesintheassociateddebateintheGeneralAssembly.FinlandhasappointedanationalR2PFocalPointthroughwhomFinlandparticipatesintheactivitiesoftheR2PFocalPointnetwork.

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• InitsUNpolicyFinlandincreasinglyemphasisestheconsolidationofandinternationalsupportfor theResponsibilitytoProtect.FinlandalsoaimstobuildbridgeswithcountriesthathavetakenacriticalviewontheR2P.

• ThroughitsFocalPointnetworkFinlandmonitorsthedevelopmentof the Responsibility to Protect. Finland also supports theconsolidationoftheR2P,includingputtingitintopractice,bothnationallyandinternationally.

• Finlandunderscoresthesignificanceofprevention.Amongotherthingsmediationplaysanimportantroleinthis.

Supporting peacekeeping

Approximately 100 000 military and 20 000 civilian personnelparticipateinUNpeacekeepingoperations(June2013).ThebiggesttroopcontributingcountriesareBangladesh,Pakistan,India,EthiopiaandNigeria.TheannualpeacekeepingbudgetisapproximatelyUSD7.3billion.ThecountriescontributingthelargestsumsaretheUnitedStates,Japan,theUnitedKingdom,GermanyandFrance.Inrecentyears,divergingopinionsovermonitoringanddevelopingtheactivityhaveemergedbetweendevelopingcountriesthatcontributetroopsandindustrialisedcountriesthatfinancetheoperations.Peacekeepingfacespolitical,financialandsecurity-relatedchallenges.

UNpeacekeepinghasbecomeallthemorecomprehensive,andthemissionsrangefromcrisisprevention,actualpeacekeepingandevenpeaceenforcementtopost-conflictstabilisationandpeacebuilding.The so-calledUN integratedmissions serve as an example of acomprehensiveapproachwhichtakesintoaccounttheassociationofmilitaryandcivilianactionwithsecurityanddevelopment.Reformingthetargetcountry’sownsecuritysector(SecuritySectorReform,SSR)andstrengtheningtheruleoflawisoftenaprerequisiteforsustainablepeace.FinlandsupportstheactivitiesoftheUNandtheintensificationofinternationalcooperationinthesecuritysector.

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FinlandholdstheopinionthattheUNplaysacentralroleininternationalcrisismanagement.FinlandintendstocontinueparticipatinginUN-mandatedpeacekeepingoperations,betheyledbytheUNorsomeotherorganisation(NATO,theEU).TheUN-ledpeacekeepingoperationUNIFILinLebanonisagoodexampleofthis.Finlandhasparticipatedinitasofthespring2012.InNovember2013thesizeofFinland’scontingentwillincreaseto350troopswhenFinlandassumestheleadnationroleintheFinnish-IrishbattalioninoperationUNIFIL.ByparticipatinginpeacekeepingactivitiesFinland,foritspart,supportsinternationalpeaceandsecurity.ThroughitsparticipationFinlandcanalsoinfluencethedevelopmentofpeacekeepingactivitiesand,concurrently,receivevaluable experience for thepurposeofdeveloping its own crisismanagementcapacity.Finland’sinputintocrisismanagementalsoimpactsour international standingandservesFinland’sneeds inobtaininginformationfromcrisisareas.

TheNordiccountriesarefirmlycommittedtoaclosercooperationinUNpeacekeeping.TheNordiccountrieshavecharteddifferentwaystogeneratesynergiesandmutuallycomplementingaction.TheyarealsoplanningtocomeupwithjointfundinginsupportofprojectsimplementedbytheUNDepartmentofPeacekeepingOperations(DPKO).

UNcooperationwithregionalorganisationsincrisismanagementhasfurtherdevelopedinrecentyears:FinlandespeciallysupportstheintensificationofUNcooperationwiththeEU,theOrganizationofSecurityandCo-operationinEurope(OSCE),NATOandtheAfricanUnion (AU).Thisapplies tocooperationat thepoliticalandfieldoperationlevelsalike.EU-UNcooperation,includingitssharedgoals,hasespeciallyaimedatimprovingthecomprehensivecrisismanagementcapabilitiesandSSRofAfricancountries.

WhenitcomestociviliancrisismanagementFinlandcanoffertrainingservicestotheUN.FinlandisalsopreparedtoparticipateinfutureUNoperationsbysecondingexpertsfromdifferentfields,suchaspoliceofficers (also femalepoliceofficers).Finnishpoliceofficers

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possessspecialexpertiseinadvisory,assistanceandtrainingtasksinthetargetcountry.TheseareasarerelevantfromthestandpointofUNpeacekeepingactivities.InDecember2012theUNmemberstatesdecidedtoestablishtheGroupofFriendsofUNPolice.ParticipationintheGroupprovidesFinlandwithanexcellentchannelininfluencingUNpoliceaction.FinlandalsoengagesinNordiccooperationasregardsUNciviliancrisismanagementand,togetherwiththeotherNordiccountries,FinlandhassupportedbolsteringtheciviliancapacitiesoftheUN.CrisisManagementCentreFinlandcooperateswiththedifferentagenciesoftheUNinthefieldofciviliancrisismanagementtraining.ItspartnersincludetheOfficefortheCoordinationofHumanitarianAffairs(OCHA),theDepartmentofPeacekeepingOperations(DPKO)andtheWorldFoodProgramme(WFP).Trainingcooperationwillbeintensifiedandmademoreversatile.

• FinlandunderscoresthecentralroleoftheUNininternationalcrisismanagementandcontinuestoparticipateinUNpeacekeepingoperationsandinthedevelopmentofpeacekeeping.

• FinlandsupportstheintensificationofcooperationbetweentheUNandregionalorganisationsincrisismanagement-relatedissues.

• FinlandofferstrainingandexpertassistancetotheUN,amongotherthings,inpolicemissions.

Strengthening the Special Political Missions (SPM) in UN crisis management and peacebuilding

AdominantcharacteristicofUNfieldoperationsinthe2000sisthegrowingimportanceofSpecialPoliticalMissionsalongsidetraditionalpeacekeepingoperations.ThisalsotranslatesintoahigherstatusforciviliancrisismanagementintheUN.TheunderlyingcausesincludefinancialconstraintsandpoliticalpressurestoreducethefootprintoftheUN.Eventhoughtraditionalpeacekeepingactivitiesarestillinmuchdemand,andontheriseinrecenttimesaswell,itisobviousthatthesignificanceofSpecialPoliticalMissionsalongsidepeacekeepingoperationswillincrease.

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ConceptualthinkingassociatedwithSpecialPoliticalMissionsisstillinitsearlystages.In2012,ontheinitiativeofMexicoandstronglysupportedbyFinland, theUNadoptedResolutionA/RES/67/123:‘ComprehensivereviewofSpecialPoliticalMissions(SPM)’.ItwasthefirsttimewhenaresolutionaskedtheSecretary-Generaltoproduceareportonthetopic,anditprovidedanopportunityfordiscussingthetopicasapoliticalquestionintheGeneralAssembly.ThereportandtheassociateddebatewilleventuallyshapethefutureofUN-centredfieldoperations.ThisalsohasconnectionswithquestionsrelatedtowiderUNreformsuchascoordinationwithintheSecretariat,politicaldecision-makingandcost-sharing.

SpecialPoliticalMissionshaveprovedtobeaneffectivemannerofflexiblyrespondingtoextremelydivergentsituationsand–unlikepeacekeepingoperations–theycanbeemployedinanycycleofaconflict.SPMsareverycost-effectiveandtheirgoalistoidentifysustainablesolutions.DuetoadministrativeandbudgetarygroundsSpecialPoliticalMissionsincorporatedisparatemissionswhich,inFinnishterminology,canbebestdescribedasciviliancrisismanagementoperations.Inaddition,mostofthemarecloselyassociatedwithmediation,orarejustthat.

InconjunctionwithSpecialPoliticalMissionsattentionshouldbefocusedonvariousearly-warningsystems.Humanrightsviolations,forinstance,mayserveasaharbinger,portendingacrisisbrewing.

FinlandhascloselycooperatedwithMexicointhedevelopmentofSpecialPoliticalMissions.BasedonthiscooperationitispossibleforFinlandtoestablishanevenmoreextensivepartnershipwithMexico,whichisaveryimportantplayerinthemultilateralarena.

• Finlandsupportsthedevelopmentofwide-rangingUNSpecialPoliticalMissions,soastomaketheresponseoftheUNtovariouscrisesmoreeffectiveandflexible.

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Implementing Security Council Resolution 1325 ‘Women, Peace and Security’

Promotingtherealisationofwomen’srightsand,hence,improvingthestatusofwomenisacross-cuttingthemeinFinland’sUNpolicy.Finlandconsistentlysupports the implementationofUNSecurityCouncilResolution1325,“Women,PeaceandSecurity”,bothinternationallyanddomestically. In its internationalcooperationFinlandfocusesattentiononthevisibilityofthe1325theme,andonitsinclusionincommonannouncementsanddocuments.Therevolutionaryideaintheresolutionisthefactthatwomenandgirlsarenolongerconsideredasjustvictims:theyarealsoactivecontributorswhoseparticipationinpeacenegotiations,peacebuildingand conflictprevention is apreconditionforsustainablepeace.

Finlandwasinthevanguardofnationsinadoptingitsown1325NationalActionPlanin2008.Thetheme‘Women,PeaceandSecurity’isoneoftheprioritiesinFinland’sforeignpolicy.ThenewActionPlanfor2012-2016wastakenintouseinJune2012:ittakesintoaccountinternationaldevelopmentandfacilitatesimprovedmonitoringofgoalsthroughtheuseofdifferentindicators.Afollow-upgroupledbytheMinistryforForeignAffairswillcontinuetomonitortherealisationoftheActionPlanandtheimplementationofgoals.Thefollow-upgroupcomprisestherepresentativesofministries,researchinstitutionsandNGOs.

FinlandpromotestherealisationofgenderequalityandincreasingthenumberofwomeninUNpeacekeepingandpeacebuildingoperationsandSpecialPoliticalMissionsaswellasimprovingUNgender-equalitytraining forpeacekeepers and implementing thegender-equalityguidelinesforUNmilitarypeacekeepingpersonnel4,publishedin2010.Moreover,FinlandaimsatprovidingtrainingonthegoalsandimplementationonResolution1325toallFinnstobedeployedtocrisismanagementorpeacekeepingmissions.InpromotingmediationFinland

4‘IntegratingaGenderPerspectiveintotheWorkoftheUnitedNationsMilitaryinPeacekeepingOperations’,UnitedNationsDepartmentofPeacekeepingOperationsandDepartmentofFieldSupport,March2010

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hasfocusedspecialattentionontheroleofwomeninpeaceprocesses.FinlandconsidersitimportantthatResolution1325canincreasinglyfacilitatethefightagainstsexualviolenceinconflictsaswell.FinlandstrivestoexertinfluenceontheSecurityCouncilsothatitsystematicallytakesthegenderperspectiveandwomen’srightsintoaccountinallcountry-specificaction.

• FinlandpromotestheimplementationofUNSecurityCouncilResolution1325‘Women,PeaceandSecurity’,andactivelysupportsthestrengtheningoftheroleofwomeninpeaceprocesses.

• Finland,atnationalandinternationallevels,focusesattentiononthevisibilityofthe1325theme,andonitsinclusionincommonstatementsanddocuments.

• Finland exerts influence on the Security Council so as tosystematicallyincludethegenderperspectiveandwomen’srightsinallcountry-specificaction.

Improving arms control and disarmament

Armedconflictconstitutesamajorimpedimentforglobaldevelopment.Armscontrol isanelementinthewiderenterprisesofpromotingdevelopment,humanrights,peace,internationalhumanitarianlawandotherelementsofhumansecurity.Finlandemphasisesthepreventionofarmedviolencesoastoachievesustainabledevelopment.

TheUNplaysacentralroleinmultilateralarmscontrolanddisarmament.TheFirstCommitteeoftheGeneralAssemblydealswithdisarmamentandsecurityissuesthataffecttheinternationalcommunity.FinlandchairedtheCommittee’s2011-2012session.FinlandholdsthatthecapacityoftheUNsystemtoseetotheimplementationofinternationalarmscontrolanddisarmamenttreatiesmustbesecured.Consequently,Finlandsupportstheeliminationofshortcomingsinthemonitoringandverificationoftreatyregimes.

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FinlandsupportstheUNConferenceonDisarmament(CD)inGenevaandtheeffortstorestartitsactivities.ShouldtheparalysisintheCDcontinue,itispresumablethatthepressuretotakearmscontrolanddisarmamenttalkselsewherewillgrow.Finland,havingtraditionallyemphasisedastrongrolefortheUN,wouldnottakeafavourableviewontakingthenegotiationstonon-UNfora,akintotheOsloandOttawaprocesses.

The Treaty on theNon-Proliferation ofNuclearWeapons (NPT)continues tobe the cornerstoneof the internationalarmscontrolregimeandthemostimportantvenueinbuildingconfidencebetweenthenuclearandnon-nuclearstates.Itcreatesacommonlyadoptedframeworkfornuclearnon-proliferation,thepeacefuluseofnuclearenergyandnucleardisarmament.Nucleardisarmamentactions(ofnuclearpowers)andthenon-nuclearstates’commitmenttonuclearnon-proliferationbolstertheframework.Atthesametimetheactionsofthenuclearpowersgiveastrongsignalasregardsthecommitmentofnon-nuclearstates.FinlandactivelysupportstheimplementationofthedecisionstakenattheNPTreviewconferencein2010whilepreparingforthenextreviewconferencein2015.Inaccordancewiththedecisionsofthe2010conference,thereisanattempttoorganiseaconferenceontheestablishmentofaMiddleEastzonefreeofnuclearweaponsandallotherweaponsofmassdestruction.In2011Finlandwasdesignatedtohosttheconference,whichcanbedoneassoonastheconditionsforconveningitcomeabout.

TheInternationalAtomicEnergyAgency(IAEA)isanindependentagencywithintheUNsystem.TheNPTassignsitacrucialroleinadministeringsafeguardsforfissionablematerials.TheIAEAalsocarriesoutcontrolsincountriesoutsidetheNPT.

OneofthemostseveresecuritythreatsinvolvesWMDsandassociatedmaterialsfallingintothehandsofterroristsorotheruncontrollableparties.FinlandsupportsthecentralroleoftheUNinpreventingtheproliferationofWMDs,andtheimplementationofSCResolution1540.Theimplementationofsaidresolutionissupportedinmanyways

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andatseveralfora,alsooutsidetheUNsystem.Suchforaincludethe‘GlobalInitiativetoCombatNuclearTerrorism’(GICNT),launchedbytheUnitedStatesandRussia,theplenarymeetingofwhichFinlandwillhostin2015aswellasthe‘GlobalPartnership’createdbytheG8in2002,whichFinlandjoinedin2003.InadditiontotheG8countriesthisprogrammeaimedagainstthespreadofweaponsandmaterialsofmassdestructionencompasses25partnercountries.

Questionsrelatedtosmallarmsandotherconventionalweaponsareincreasinglyimportantinmultilateralarmscontrolefforts.Finland,whohasbeeninthecoregrouppromotingtheinternationalArmsTradeTreaty(ATT)intheUN,willcontinuetochampionthegoalsoftheprocess.OneofthemostimportantarmscontrolinstrumentsassociatedwithconventionalweaponsistheUNSmallArmsandLightWeapons(SALW)programme.FinlandendeavourstostrengthentheroleoftheUNinpreventingsmallarmsproliferationbysupportingthisprogramme.TheeffectiveimplementationoftheSALWprogrammecontinuestobeamajorchallengeforthememberstates.

TheadoptionoftheArmsTradeTreatybytheGeneralAssemblyinApril2013alsoservedasanexampleofasuccessfulnegotiationprocessintheUN.ThestrongsupportoftheUNmembershiplegitimisedtheTreatyandanchoreditintothebedrockofotherinternationaltreaties.TheATTisthefirstinternationaltreatythataddressestradeinconventionalweapons,settinghighcommonstandardsforthetrade.Concurrently,theTreatyaimstopreventthetransferofweaponsintotheillicittrade.InthefinalanalysisthepurposeoftheTreatyistopreventthehumansufferingcausedbyarmedconflictandtheillicitarmstrade.

• Finland supports the central role of theUN in arms control,disarmamentandpreventionoftheproliferationofWMDs.

• FinlandactivelysupportstheimplementationofthedecisionstakenattheNPTreviewconferencein2010whilepreparingforthenextreviewconferencein2015,theimplementationofSCResolution1540,andtheworkoftheInternationalAtomicEnergyAgency.

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• TheinternationalArmsTradeTreatywasadoptedinApril2013andFinlandadvancesitsentryintoforceasexpedientlyaspossiblebypromotingsignaturesandratifications.Finland,amongthefirsttodoso,signedtheTreatyon3June2013andaimstoratifyitassoonaspossible.

• Finlandpromotesthenon-proliferationofsmallarmsbysupportingtheUNSmallArmsandLightWeaponsprogramme.

Supporting counter-terrorism

Whenitcomestocounter-terrorism,FinlandsupportstheworkoftheUNincreatingagenerallegislativeframeworkandinmonitoringtheimplementationofinternationalobligations.FinlandendorsesthewidestpossibleratificationoftheUnitedNationsConventionsonTerrorism,andmaintainsthattheycreateasolidfoundationininternationallawtocounter-terroristcooperation.FinlandhasratifiedtheUNConventionsonTerrorismandisintheprocessofpreparingtoratifytheirlatestamendments.Theeffective implementationof theUnitedNationsGlobalCounter-TerrorismStrategyandconsensusonacomprehensivecounter-terrorismconventionarethekeygoalsinthissector.TheyarealsohighlightedinEUcooperation.

Finlandstressesthatallcounter-terroristactionmustcomplywithinternationallaw,includinghumanrightslaw,humanitarianlawandrefugeelaw.Thisperspectivemustbekeptinfocuswhiledevelopingtheprovisionsforinternationalcounter-terrorismandacounter-terroristsanctionsregime.Oneofthemostimportantareasininternationalcooperationinvolvesbringingtheperpetratorsofterroristactstojustice.Thisissupplemented,interalia,bycounter-terroristsanctionsandotherpreventiveaction.

FinlandbelievesthattheworkoftheSecurityCouncilCounter-TerrorismCommittee,includingthecountry-specificactionofitsSecretariat,isusefulinattemptingtoensuretheimplementationofthekeySCResolutionsamongthememberstates.

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Theunderlyingcausesofterrorismmustalsobedealtwiththroughpoliticalandhumanrightsdialogueaswellasdevelopmentcooperation.FinlandsupportstheUnitedNationsAllianceofCivilization(AOC),establishedon the initiativeof theSecretary-General,whichasapromoter of cooperative relations across cultures and religionsparticularlyendeavourstoalleviatetensionandconfrontationbetweentheIslamicworldandtheso-calledWest,andalsoaimstostrengthendialogueandcooperationglobally,regionallyandlocally.TheactivitiesoftheAOCarefocusedonyouth,themedia,migration,andassociatededucationandtraining.

• FinlandendorsesthewidestpossibleratificationofUnitedNationsConventionsonTerrorismandtheeffectiveimplementationofthe2006UnitedNationsGlobalCounter-TerrorismStrategy.

• Finlandadvocatesrespectforhumanrightslaw,humanitarianlawandrefugeelawincounter-terroristactionandconventions.

• Initsowncounter-terroristaction,includingitsdevelopment,FinlandtakesintoaccountthekeyguidelinesandrecommendationsoftheUN.

• Incross-culturalandinterreligiousdialogueFinlandsupportstheactionoftheUnitedNationsAllianceofCivilization,includingitsworkonyouthinNorthAfricaandtheMiddleEast.

Sanctions

SanctionsimposedbytheSecurityCouncilareimportantinstrumentsinmaintainingandrestoringinternationalpeaceandsecurity.Finlandactivelyparticipatesinthedevelopmentofinternationalsanctionsregimesandendeavourstopromotethematerialisationofhumanrightsand legalprotectionasabasicelementofaneffectiveandlegitimatesanctionspolicy.AttheUNlevellegalprotectionisespeciallypromotedaspartoftheworkoftheGroupofLike-MindedStatesonTargetedSanctionswhichcontinuestoimprovethepracticesandthe

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OmbudspersonsystemoftheSecurityCouncil’sAl-QaidaSanctionsCommittee,andgraduallymigrateitsimprovementstoothersanctionsregimesaswell.

• Finlandparticipatesinthedevelopmentofinternationalsanctionsregimesandpromotestherealisationofhumanrightsandlegalprotectionininternationalsanctionspolicy.

• Finlandsupportstheeffectiveapplicationoftargetedsanctionswhichtakeintoaccounttheirhumanitarianimpacts.

International development questions

TheUNisthecentralchannelthroughwhichFinlandimplementsitsdevelopmentpolicy.InaccordancewiththeGovernmentProgrammeFinlandwillenhanceitsinvolvementinandcontributiontomultilateralcooperation,emphasisingcoherenceandeffectivenessinitsactionwithinthem.Finland’sdevelopmentpolicyanddevelopmentcooperationbuildontheGovernment’sDevelopmentPolicyProgramme,adoptedin2012.Ahumanrights-baseddevelopmentpolicycomplieswithinternationallyacceptedprinciplesandpracticeswhichimproveaideffectivenessandresults,coherenceandtransparencyindevelopmentcooperationaswellasunderscorelocalownershipindevelopingcountriesandtheresponsibilityofthelocalpopulationfortheirdevelopment.FinlandpromoteseffectivenessandcoherenceoftheUN,aswellastheotherpriorityareasoftheDevelopmentPolicyProgramme,includingthecross-cuttingthemes,i.e.promotinggenderequalityandreducinginequality,andclimatesustainability.

FinlandiscommittedtoachievingtheMillenniumDevelopmentGoals(MDG)andactivelyparticipatesinpreparingthepost-2015developmentgoalsatthenationallevel,intheEUandtheUN.FinlandsupportstheleadingroleoftheUNindraftingthepost-2015developmentagendasoastomakeitpossibletogetallcountriestoparticipateandcommittothecommongoalsasfirmlyaspossible.Finlandemphasiseslocalownership

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ofdevelopingcountriesandthesignificanceofdialogueregardingthenewdevelopmentagenda.FinlandfavoursasinglesetofcommonlyadoptedSustainableDevelopmentGoalsandupdatedMDGswhichincludethethreedimensions(economic,socialandenvironmental)ofsustainabledevelopment,andalsothedimensionofpeaceandsecurity.Thegoalsshouldbebindingtoallcountries,measurable,limitedinnumberandeasytocommunicate.Statesmustbeabletomeetthegoalsinaccordancewiththeirrespectivelevelsofdevelopmentandcapacities.

TheMillenniumDevelopmentGoalsunitedthedevelopmenteffortsoftheinternationalcommunityandcreatedacommonsetofprogressmeasurementtools.ThemostimportantdevelopmentpolicyprocessforthecomingyearsinvolvestheUN-ledreviewofoldgoalsandadoptingnewones.

WithintheUNFinlandworksforintegrationofthedimensionsofsustainabledevelopment,strivingforaneconomically,sociallyandenvironmentallysustainablefuture.Theaimistoestablishaframeworkofgoalsandtargetsforallcountrieswhosefocusliesontheeradicationofpovertywithinplanetaryboundariesthroughsustainabledevelopment.ImportantobjectivesfromFinland’sviewpointareincludedinthereportofthehigh-levelpanelsetbytheSecretary-General,publishedinMay2013.TheSecretary-GeneralwillpresenthisreporttotheGeneralAssemblyintheautumnof2013.

Thegoalsoftheframeworkshouldbelimitedinnumber,measurableandeasilycommunicable.Theyshouldtakeintoaccountdifferentcountries’levelofdevelopmentandinternalsituation.StronglocalownershipindevelopingcountriesisanimportantfactorforFinlandwhenthenewgoalsarebeingnegotiatedandimplemented.

InthenewframeworkFinlandemphasisesthecentralthemesofitsdevelopmentpolicywhichalsoincludethespearheadthemesintheUNStrategy.FinlandadvancestheseobjectivesespeciallythroughtheEU,togetherwiththeotherNordiccountries,byestablishingdifferentpartnerships,andwhennecessaryonanationalbasis.

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Thefuturetargetframeworkshouldincludetopicsrelatedtohumanrights,includingsexualandreproductivehealthandrights,democracyandtheruleoflawaswellasotherstructuresinsociety.Itshouldalsoreduceinequality,advancegenderequalityandtakeintoaccounttheneedsofvulnerablegroups.Theframeworkshouldalsoaddressissuesrelatedtopeaceandsecurity,andconflictsandviolence.

Finland’sdevelopmentperspectivealsoencompassesseveralotherobjectiveswhich entail, inter alia, soundmanagementofnaturalresources,bettermobilisationoflocalresourcesandincreasedcorporatesocialresponsibilityindevelopingcountries.Finlandalsostrivesforabetterconsiderationofwaterandsanitationissues,includingtheirconnectionwithothertopicssuchasenergy,foodsecurityandhealth.Thefuturedevelopmentagendashouldalsotakeintoaccountpolicycoherencefordevelopment.

IndevelopmentfundingFinlandendorsesabroadfinancingbasethatmakesfinancialresourcesincreasinglyavailable,alongsideOfficialDevelopmentAssistance(ODA).AsitspointofdepartureFinlandbelievesthatitisimportant:tomobilisethepartnercountries’ownresources through, among other things, international trade andinvestments;todevelopnationaltaxationsystemsandtaxrevenuecollection; and to tackleunregulated capital flight. In supportofnational funding Finland advances, among other things, public-privatepartnershipsandtheintroductionofnew,innovativefinancinginstruments.FinlandcontinuestopresentthethemesofcomprehensivedevelopmentfundingatdifferentUNforainotherwaysaswell.

Finlandemphasisesthesignificanceofsustainableandaccountableprivate investments increatingeconomicandsocialdevelopmentandsupportstheworkoftheUNsystemincreatinganinternationalinvestmentregime.Forthispurpose,withintheframeworkoftheHelsinkiProcess,Finlandcontinuesthemulti-stakeholderdialogueitlaunchedwithregardtoquestionsassociatedwiththereformoptionsoftheinvestmentregime.FinlandactivelypromotesthestrengtheningoftheroleandfunctionsoftheUNtaxcommittee.

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Supporting the development activities of the UN

Finland actively exerts influence in the governing bodies of theUNagenciesitsupportsaswellasinitsbilateralrelationswiththeorganisations,andtogetherwithgroupsfromdonorcountriessuchastheUtsteinandMOPAN.Positionsoftrustinorganisations,suchasthe2013UNICEFPresidency,provideanexceptionallyopportunepossibilitytopromotetheeffectivenessoforganisations.Finlandalsowields influence in theGeneralAssembly, theUNEconomicandSocialCouncil(ECOSOC)anditssub-committees,andindifferentUNconferencessoastoadvanceourdevelopmentpolicygoals.

Finlandcontinuestomakeastronginvestmentintothepromotionofahumanrightsbasedapproach,genderequality,andsexualandreproductivehealthandrights.Furthermore,Finlandunderscorestheimportanceofeducationasaprerequisiteforsustainabledevelopment.

AcleardivisionoflabourbetweentheUNandotherbodies,mutualcoordination,complementarityandcoherencearenecessary,bothattheUNHeadquartersandatthefieldlevel.Finlandespeciallyemphasises,amongotherthings,field-levelcooperationbetweenUNbodiesandthesupportfromtheUNHeadquarterswhichthisentails.

ThebulkofFinland’scorefundingtoUNbodiesischannelledtotheUnitedNationsPopulationFund(UNFPA), theUNDevelopmentProgramme(UNDP)andtheUNChildren’sFund(UNICEF).OtherkeyrecipientsofgeneralfundingincludetheJointUnitedNationsProgrammeonHIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), theUNEntity forGenderEqualityandtheEmpowermentofWomen(UNWomen),theWorldFoodProgramme(WFP),theWorldHealthOrganization(WHO),theUNEnvironmentProgramme(UNEP)andtheUnitedNationsHumanSettlementsProgramme(UN-HABITAT).Inaddition,FinlandsupportstheactivitiesofUNbodiesthroughvariousprojects.Thekeyspecialisedagencies,programmesandfundssupportedbyFinlandarelistedinthesection‘KeyUNFunds,ProgrammesandSpecialisedAgenciesthatFinlandSupports’.

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AstrategicanalysisofFinland’smultilateraldevelopmentcooperationwascompletedinthespringof2013.ItsystematicallyevaluatedthechannelsofFinland’smultilateralcooperation.TheanalysiswasthefirstofitskindanditprovidedausefuloverallpictureofFinland’smultilateralcooperationincludingitsapportionment.Likewise, itgeneratedimportantorganisation-specificinformationwithregardtotheefficiencyandeffectivenessofFinland’scooperationpartners.Theanalysisencompassed68multilateralactors.InadditiontotheinternalreviewoftheMinistryforForeignAffairstheanalysisusedevaluationsgeneratedbyothercountriesandcountrygroupsasbaselinematerial.

TheanalysisshowsthatFinland’smultilateraldevelopmentcooperationissplitbetweenquiteafeworganisations.InaccordancewiththeGovernment’sDevelopmentPolicyProgrammeFinlandwillattempttoreducefragmentationindevelopmentcooperationandconcentrateonmoreclearlyprioritisedtargets.TheresultsoftheanalysisprovideusefulbackgroundinformationsoastobeabletochannelfuturesupporttosuchorganisationsandfinancinginstitutionswhichcangeneratethebestpossibleresultsinthepriorityareasofFinland’sdevelopmentpolicy.

AccordingtotheanalysisthemultilateralorganisationswhichFinlandfinancesarerelativelyefficientandeffective.Theeffectivenessandefficiencyofthekeylargeorganisationsare,atleast,atasatisfactorylevel.Humanitarianorganisationsandinternationaldevelopmentfinancinginstitutionsfaredthebestinthiscomparison.Thescoresofso-calledgeneraldevelopmentorganisations,whichincludeUNdevelopmentfundsandprogrammesaswellasspecialisedagencies,weremorewidelydispersedinthelisting.Theresultsoftheanalysisespeciallyprovidetoolsforstrengtheningorganisation-specificeffectivenessandfortheprioritisationofdevelopmentcooperationfunding.

Ontheresultsoftheanalysis,andotherorganisation-specificmaterial,theMinistryforForeignAffairswillprepareaspecialstrategyforeachmultilateralactorthatreceivesdevelopmentcooperationfundingfromFinland.Thestrategywilloutlinethegoalsandmeansofinfluencerelatedtocontent,practices,efficiencyandeffectiveness.

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• InordertoachieveitsdevelopmentpolicygoalsFinlandexertsinfluenceon theexecutiveboardsofUNbodies,bymeansofcontinualbilateraldialogueandthroughdonors.Anexampleofthisisthe2013PresidencyoftheUNICEFExecutiveBoard.

• InthedevelopmentactivitiesoftheUN,Finlandpromotes,interalia,questionsrelatedtohumanrightsbasedapproach,genderequalityandthepromotionofsexualandreproductivehealthandrights.

• Finlandactivelyparticipatesinpreparingthepost-2015developmentagendaatthenationallevel,intheEUandtheUN.

• Ontheresultsoftheanalysiscompletedinthespringof2013theMinistryforForeignAffairswillprepareaspecialstrategyforeachmultilateralactorthatreceivesdevelopmentcooperationfundingfromFinland.ThebulkofFinland’sUNdevelopmentfundingischannelledtotheUNFPA,theUNDP,UNICEFandUNWomen.

Environment and climate change

IntheframeworkofawiderUNagenda,andonthebasisofboth(1992,2012)RioConferencesonSustainableDevelopment,Finlandintendstorespondtothedifferentpriorityareasandthemesofsustainabledevelopment, especially as regards the green economy and theSustainableDevelopmentGoals.TheworkonsustainabledevelopmentwilltakeintoaccounttheresultsofothermeetingsandConventionscentraltodevelopmentortheenvironment.

EnvironmentalgovernanceintheUNsystemmustbefurtherdevelopedandstrengthenedaspartofUNreform.MutualcoordinationandcoherencebetweenUNbodiesandprogrammesmustbeadvancedonquestionsrelatedtosustainabledevelopment,theenvironmentandclimatechange.Itisimportanttostrengthenmultilateralenvironmentalagreements,andtoimprovecoordinationandmakebetteruseofthesynergiesbetweenthem.FinlandsupportstheworkaimedatcreatingaspecialisedenvironmentalorganisationwithintheUN.

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TheUNandtheUnitedNationsFrameworkConventiononClimateChange(UNFCCC),isthecentralforumofglobalclimatepolicy.Finland’skeyobjective,aspartoftheEU,istoadoptaglobalgreenhousegasemissionsreductionconventionundertheauspicesoftheUN,onthebasisoftheDohaGateway,amongothers.Finlandactivelyparticipatesinthenegotiationsaimedatincreasingtheeffectivenessofinternationalclimatepolicy.

IntheUNsystemamoreefficientmanagementoftheproblemscausedby,orassociatedwith, climatechangedemands thebestpossibleutilisationoftheUNEnvironmentProgramme’s(UNEP)andotherUNactors’resourcesaswellasachievingsynergieswithotherinternationalorganisations.Multilateralcooperationaims,amongotherthings,atsecuringaccesstoenergyfor,andsupportingclimatechangeadaptationinthepoorestcountries.

FinlandsupportstheUNforestryprocessbyparticipatingintheactivitiesoftheUNForumonForests(UNFF),andpromotesthecodificationoflegallybindinginternationalforestrynorms,especiallythroughthenegotiatingprocessforanagreementonEuropeanforests.Likewise,theworkundertheauspicesoftheUNFCCContheimportanceofforestsinclimatechangeisalsoimportant.

Finlandpromotestheachievementofgoalsonwaterandsanitationaspartofhumanrights.InordertoincreasewatersecurityFinlandpromotestheratificationandimplementationoftransboundarywatercooperationagreementsatdifferentfora.

• FinlandcomprehensivelyfocusesonthedifferentthemesandsectorsofsustainabledevelopmentandespeciallyonthegreeneconomyandSustainableDevelopmentGoalsaspartofthewiderUNagenda.

• Finlandpromotesthecodificationoflegallybindinginternationalforestrynorms.

• Finlandpromotestheachievementofgoalsonwaterandsanitationaspartofhumanrights.

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Developing peacebuilding

Inordertopromotestabilityandsustainabledevelopmentthedifferentformsofassistancemustbemutuallycomplementing,startingfromcrisisprevention,crisismanagementandhumanitarianassistanceandculminatinginpeacebuildinganddevelopmentcooperation.

Thespecialneedsandinitialconditionofatargetareamustbetakenintoaccountindeterminingtherangeofinstrumentstobeimplemented.ToachievethisFinlandsupportstheactivityofthepeacebuildingarchitecture,createdaspartoftheUNreformin2006,whichaimsatassistingcountriesrecoveringfromconflicttowardssustainablepeaceanddevelopmentandpreventingtheirreturntoconflict.Bysupportingpost-conflictpeacebuildingFinlandpromotesstabilityandsecurity,andconsolidatesthematerialisationofdemocracy,theruleoflawandhumanrights,therebylayingthefoundationforsustainabledevelopmentinsupportofstatestransitioningtothepost-conflictphase.

TheUNpeacebuildingarchitecturecomprisestheUnitedNationsPeacebuilding Fund (PBF), the United Nations PeacebuildingCommission(PBC)andthePeacebuildingSupportOffice(PBSO),whichadministersthePBFandthePBC.ThemaingoalofthePBFistoprovidesupporttocountriesemergingfromconflict,andtoflexiblyandpromptlysecureresourcesforsuchpeacebuildingactivitieswhichdirectlycontributetopost-conflictstabilisationinthetargetcountry,andtostrengtheningthecapacityofsociety.Itsmissionstatementisbasedonthepremisethatduringthepost-conflicttransitionphasethePBFwillfillthegapsinfundingwhenotherfinancinginstrumentsareunavailable.AccordingtotheprinciplesoftheFunditwilloperateinapproximately20countries,atmaximum,soastoensureeffectivenessandresultorientation.FinlandfundsthePBFandparticipatesinthedebateconcerningtheactivitiesanddevelopmentoftheFundthrough,amongotherthings,annualdonorconferencesandmeetingsofthegroupoffriendsofthePBF.SupportingtheFundalsoservesasanexampleofpreventingsecuritythreatsthroughdevelopmentpolicy.

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• Finland supports stability and security and strengthens therealisationofdemocracy,theruleoflawandhumanrightsthroughpeacebuilding.

• FinlandprovidesfinancingtotheUnitedNationsPeacebuildingFundandfocusesspecialattentiononimprovingtheroleofwomeninissuesrelatedtopeacebuilding.

Global governance, trade and development, including corporate sustainability and the information society

Pursuant to its Programme the Government strives for the fairdistributionofbenefitsaccruedthroughglobalisationandreducingtheillsanduncertaintyassociatedwithit.InamultipolarworldFinlandendeavourstoactivelystrengthenandmodernisethemultilateralsystemwhichcommitsallkeyactorstocommongoalsandsolutions.

PartlybecauseofthedifficultiesinmultilateralcooperationtheG20hasbecomeakeycooperativeforumforglobaleconomicquestions.ItisFinland’sobjectivefortheG20tocloselyinteractwithUNbodiessoastoensuretherepresentativenessofdecision-makinginglobalquestions,andtoguaranteeanopportunityforsmallstatestoinfluencesaiddecision-making.

Issuesrelatedtointernationaltaxation,andespeciallyassociatednegativephenomenasuchasillicitfinancialflows,taxhavensandtransferpricingissues,havebecomeanimportanttopic in internationaleconomicpolicyandthedebaterelatedtotaxation,aswellasindevelopmentpolicy.Internationaltaxationquestionsinvolvedevelopingcountriesandindustrialisedcountriesalike,anddemandsystematicactionatthenationalandgloballevel.Country-specificactionmusttakeintoaccountthespecialfeaturesofthecountryandareainquestion.Whenitcomestodevelopmentpolicy,taxationissueswillrisetotheforefrontonthepost-2015developmentagendaandasquestionsrelatedtopolicyandfunding.

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Privateinvestmentsplayacrucialroleinfosteringeconomicandsocialprogress,indevelopingandindustrialisedcountriesalike.Finlandsupports the trade of developing countries, including reformingtheinvestmentenvironment,bytakingintoaccounttheSustainableDevelopmentGoals.ThisactionissteeredbyFinland’s‘AidforTrade’ActionPlan2012–2015.Theobjectiveistofostergreeneconomiesthatpromoteemploymentbydevelopingtheprivatesector, tradeandinvestments.

FinlandparticipatesinstrengtheningtheeconomicbaseofdevelopingcountriesalsothroughtheactivitiesofUNbodies.Thesebodiesplayaprominentroleinexpandingthetradeandproductioncapacitiesofdevelopingcountries, indevelopingtheir innovationandtradepolicycompetence,andinenhancingpredictabilityintheireconomicenvironmentandcompetitiveness.MultilateralcooperationthroughtheUNisacentralchannelforFinlandintheimplementationofitsAidforTradedevelopmentcooperation.FinlandsupportsseveralUNbodiesthroughgeneralfundingandbyfinancingtheirindividualprogrammes.KeypartnerswhichFinlandsupportsincludetheUnitedNationsConferenceonTradeandDevelopment(UNCTAD),theUNDevelopmentProgramme(UNDP),theUNIndustrialDevelopmentOrganization (UNIDO) and the InternationalTradeCentre (ITC)workingunderajointmandatefromtheUNConferenceonTradeandDevelopment(UNCTAD)andtheWorldTradeOrganization(WTO).Theanalysisonmultilateralaidalsoprovidesguidelinesfordirectingthefundsrelatedtothistheme.

WithregardtoworkoninternationaltradeandinvestmentsFinlandalsosupportstheintensificationofcooperationbetweenUNbodiesandtheWTO,theWorldBank,regionaldevelopmentfinancinginstitutionsandtheOrganisationforEconomicCo-operationandDevelopment(OECD).TheactivitiesofUNbodiestrytomeetthekindsofcountryandregion-levelchallengesandprioritiesthatdemandcross-border,regionalorglobalsolutions.FinlandfocusesitssupportthroughUNbodiesondevelopingthebusinessandinvestmentenvironment,onstrengtheningacompetitiveandinnovativeproductioncapacityand

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onthepreconditionsforforeigntrade.Thespecialneedsofthepoorestdevelopingcountriesaretakenintoaccountinthisactivity.

ThecommitmentsoftheWorldSummitontheInformationSociety(WSIS,Geneva2003andTunis2005)aimatbuildingan inclusiveinformationsociety,onewhereallofmankindcanenjoythebenefitsof ICT technology for the purpose of promoting development,democracyandhumanrights.TheGeneralAssemblyistoevaluatethematerialisationoftheWSIScommitmentsin2015.

Finlandactivelyparticipatesintheimplementationandfollow-upofWSIScommitmentsinthedecision-makingbodiesandspecialisedagenciesoftheUN.Finlandsupportssuchsolutionswhichmakeitpossiblefordevelopingcountriestoparticipateintheglobalinformationsociety.FinlandendorsesthedevelopmentofInternetmanagementonthebasisofuniversalcooperation,mediafreedom,freedomofspeech,andtheprotectionofprivacyontheInternet.Freedomofthemediaalsopresupposestherealisationofothercivilandpoliticalrightsaswellaseconomic,socialandculturalrights.WhentheinformationsocietydevelopsunderthecommitmentsoftheWSISthis,foritspart,alsoenhancescivilsociety’spotential.

FinlandisthebiggestdonoroftheInternetGovernanceForum(IGF)whichencompassesallrelevantstakeholders.Moreover,FinlandfundstheCommissiononScienceandTechnologyforDevelopment(CSTD),asubsidiarybodyoftheEconomicandSocialCouncil(ECOSOC).TheCSTDisresponsibleforWSISfollow-upintheUN.FinlandalsosupportsUNESCO’sWSISfollow-upandtheGlobalAllianceforICTandDevelopment,amulti-stakeholderforum.

• Finland participates in strengthening the economic base ofdevelopingcountriesalsothroughtheactivitiesofUNbodies.Taxationissuesareanimportantelementinmobilisingnationalresources andmust be taken into account in the post-2015negotiations.

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• FinlandsupportsthetradeconditionsofdevelopingcountriesandinvestmentenvironmentreformbyprovidinggeneralfundingtoseveralUNbodiesandbyfinancingtheirindividualprogrammes.

• FinlandespeciallyemphasisesthecooperationbetweentheWTO,theUNCTADandtheOECDinactivitiesrelatedtointernationalinvestmentsandsustainabledevelopment.

• Finlandactivelyparticipatesintheimplementationandfollow-upofWSIScommitmentsinthedecision-makingbodiesandspecialisedagenciesoftheUN.Finlandsupportssuchsolutionswhichmakeitpossiblefordevelopingcountriestoparticipateintheglobalinformationsociety.

Promoting human rights and the rule of law

Human rights

Arobustmultilateral system is indispensable fordevelopingandpromotinghumanrights.DuetotheuniversalityofhumanrightstheUN,asaglobalorganisation,isirreplaceable.TheUNdoesnotonlycreatetheuniversalhumanrightsstandards,italsomonitorsandevaluatestheirimplementation.

Finlandunderscorestheinterdependencyofhumanrights,securityanddevelopment.Finland’shumanrightspolicyisfoundedontheUniversalDeclarationofHumanRights,internationallaw,humanrightstreatiesandotherinternationallybindinghumanrightsdocuments.Equalrightswithoutdistinctionofanykind,suchasbirth,race,gender,age,language,culturalbackground,religion,politicalorotheropinion,disability,sexualorientationoridentity,orotherstatus,isthecentralpointofdeparture.Democracyandtheruleoflawmustbepromotedtoguaranteethematerialisationofhumanrights.

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Finlandemphasisesthesignificanceofmultilateralcooperation,well-functioninginstitutionsandtheinternationallegalorderinmeetingglobalchallenges.FinlandsupportsthedevelopmentofinternationallawandstrengtheningthemeansofitsenforcementintheactivitiesoftheUN.

FinlandwantstofurtherstrengthentheactivityoftheUNinpromotinghumanrights.Inordertoboostthecohesionofhumanrights,securityanddevelopmentinpractice,cooperationbetweenthedifferentactorsintheUNmustbeimprovedandthehumanrights-basedpointofdeparturemustbeemphasised.Finland’sgoalistomainstreamhumanrightsinallUNaction.Thenew,post-2015developmentagendaoftheworldorganisationmustbebasedonhumanrightsandthelegalobligationofstatesinordertosafeguardtherights.

Finlandprotectstherealisationofhumanrightsandtheindependenceofmonitoringmechanisms,andendeavourstoguaranteesufficientresourcesforthem.

Astheprincipleofuniversalityofhumanrightsisincreasinglyunderattack,cooperationwithlike-mindedstatesisevermoreimportant.InordertoadvanceFinland’sprioritiesitbecomesnecessarytoseeknewcooperationpartnersfromamongothercountrygroups.Dialogueandcooperationwiththeemergingstatesisimportant.

Finlandspecificallyaimstopromotetherightsofwomen,children,sexuality-orgender-basedminorities(LGBTI),indigenouspeoplesandpersonswithdisabilities.Finlandalsopaysparticularattentiontothepreventionofmultiplediscriminationandthestatusofminorities.InadditiontoadvancingcivilandpoliticalrightsFinlandactivelypromotestheimplementationofeconomic,socialandculturalrights.

FinlandsupportstheUNGuidingPrinciplesonBusinessandHumanRightsasregardstheresponsibilityof thestate toprotectagainstbusiness-relatedhumanrightsabuses,theobligationofcorporations

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to actwithduediligencewith regard tohuman rights and theirimplementation.Finlandparticipatesintheinternationaldebateonthecodificationoftheresponsibilitiesoftransnationalcorporationsandcorporatesustainability.

Finlandcontinuestoactivelypursueitshumanrightsprioritiesin,especially,theThirdCommitteeoftheGeneralAssemblyandintheAssembly’sHumanRightsCouncil(HRC),whichplayimportantrolesasglobalhumanrightsfora.WhereasFinlandmostlywieldsitsinfluencethroughtheEU,nationalactionwithlike-mindedcountries,particularlyinquestionsthatdividetheUnion,isimportant.CooperationwiththeotherNordiccountriescomesnaturallyintheformofjointNordicstatementsanddeclarations,amongotherthings.

TheHumanRightsCouncilhasproveditspotentialforengaginginhumanrightssituationsatanytime–evenwithouttheconsentofthestateinquestion.Finlandcontinuestosupportsuchdevelopment.TheHRC’suniversalperiodicreview(UPR)processmustbefurtherimprovedandstrengthenedandthemechanismmustbeutilisedinothermultilateralandbilateralcooperation.

FinlandsupportstheOfficeoftheHighCommissionerforHumanRights(OHCHR)andconsidersthattheindependenceoftheHighCommissionershouldbefurtherstrengthened.FinlandendorsesthegoalsoftheHighCommissionerinimprovingtheeffectivenessofactionandfortheuniversalmaterialisationofhumanrights.ThisalsoincludesclosercooperationwiththeSecurityCouncilasregardsthecomprehensiveobservanceofhumanrightsintheactivitiesofCouncil.TheOHCHRshouldreceiveamuchlargershareoftheregularbudget.Finlandprotectstheindependenceofhumanrightsmonitoringbodiesandpromotestheiroperatingconditions.

Finlandconsidersittobeanimportantgoalthatregionalhumanrightstreaties,fortheirpart,advancethehumanrightsstandardsoftheUN.Furthermore,itisessentialtoactivelyremindeveryoneofthefactthatregionalhumanrightsorganisationscomplementtheUNsystem.

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• Thecross-cuttingthemesinFinland’shumanrightspolicyareopennessandtheeliminationofdiscrimination,andincreasinginclusion.Thesegoalsaretakenintoaccountinallactivities,andtheywillbepursuedintheUNaswellasother internationalorganisationsandbilateralcooperation.

• Thekeyprojectsarebasedonthecross-cuttingthemes.Theyaimatincreasingcompetence,allocatingresourcesandsolicitingsupportforthemfromothersaswell.Themosteffectivemeanswillbeselectedforeachspearheadtheme.

• Thethreespearheadthemesdefinedfor2013-2015are:promotingthe participation and the human rights ofwomen and girls;advancinglegallybindingeconomic,socialandculturalrights,includingtheirimplementation;andincreasinginclusion.

Rule of law and good governance

PromotingtheruleoflawisanincreasinglyimportantpriorityareainUNpolicywhichcutsacrosstheactivitiesofmanysectors.Itshouldberegardedasalegalandpoliticalquestionaswellasahumanrights,democracyanddevelopmentissue.Likewise,thelinkbetweenruleoflawdevelopmentandmigrationisstrong.

Activity that supports the rule of law in post-crisis cooperationfocusesespeciallyonstabilisationbysupportingpeaceprocessesandbystrengtheningthejudicialsysteminthetargetcountryforthepurposeofpreventingimpunity,amongotherthings.Givingattentiontocompliancewith the ruleof law inUNactivities,especially inpeacekeeping operations and the activities of the PeacebuildingCommissionandthePeacebuildingFund,isimportant.Finlandbelievesthatthemechanismsofjusticeandstrengtheningtheruleoflawinthetransitionphaseconstitutethecentralpreconditionsforsustainablepeaceanddevelopment.Hence,questionsrelatedtotheruleoflaw,humanrightsanddemocracyarealsoanaturalpartofthepost-2015globalagenda,andaresectorswhichFinlandwantstopromote.

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IntheUNFinlandhasstronglybroughtattentiontotheruleoflawthematic.IntheGeneralAssembly’shigh-levelmeetingontheruleoflawinSeptember2012,andatthesideeventorganisedbyFinland,SouthAfricaandUNWomen,Finlandexpresslyemphasisedtheroleofwomeninimprovingaccesstolegalprotection.Finland’spositionisalsobasedonitsownexperiencesasregardstheimportanceofproperlyfunctioningruleoflawonthedevelopmentofademocraticsociety.FinlandaimstofurthersupportandstrengthentheruleoflawprocessoftheUNwhichoccursatinternationalandnationallevels.

ThestrengtheningoftheUN’sinternalcooperationandcoordinationmechanismsmustcontinue.BetterinternalruleoflawcoordinationwithintheUNandgoodcooperationwithotheractorsisseenasanimportantgoal,bothattheHeadquartersand,especially,attheleveloffieldoperations.Concurrently,improvingtheassessmentofresultsasregardssupportfortheruleoflaw,anditseffectivenessmustbegivenattention.

IntheruleoflawsectorFinlandiswellequippedtoactivelypromotegoodgovernanceandanti-corruption.FinlandsupportstheimplementationoftheUnitedNationsConventionagainstCorruptionandthefurtherdevelopmentofitsfollow-upmechanism.

• FinlandsupportstheUnitedNations’ruleoflawprocessattheinternationalandnationallevels.

• Finlandpaysparticularattentiontotheroleofwomeninimprovingaccesstolegalprotection.

• Finlandbelievesthattheruleoflawthememustalsobeincludedinthepost-2015globalagenda.

• Finland supports the implementation of theUnitedNationsConventionagainstCorruptionandthedevelopmentofitsfollow-upmechanism.

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International law

DevelopinginternationallawandpromotingcompliancewithitarecoretasksoftheUN,andtheUNCharterperseisoneofthemostprominentreferencesofinternationallaw.Commonlyadoptedinternationalnormsarenecessaryforafunctioningglobalsociety.OverthecourseofdecadestheUNhascreatedacomprehensivenetworkoftreaties,comprisingover550agreements,whichareofkeyimportanceintheregulationofinternationalrelationsandthelegaldevelopmentofthememberstates.ThesignificanceoftheUNinofferingpeacefulsolutionsindisputesisincontestable,andtheUNhasplayedakeyroleineliminatingimpunityasregardsthemostseriouscrimesofconcerntotheinternationalcommunity.

Strengthening international law

Finlandactivelyparticipatesintheworkthatexpandstheinternationalnetworkoftreaties,andwieldsinfluenceintheGeneralAssembly,initsSixthCommitteedealingwithlegalmatters,andinthedevelopmentofinternationallawwithintheUNsystem.FinlandvaluesthesupportoftheGeneralAssembly’sInternationalLawCommission(ILC)inthiswork.

Finland’sgoalistopromoteanextensiveratificationofinternationaltreatiesandtheireffective implementation. Inorder tosecure thesubstanceofmultilateraltreatiesFinlandconsistentlyopposes,interalia,reservationsinhumanrightsconventionsthatdefytheirpurposesandgoals.

FinlandsupportswideracceptanceofthepowersoftheInternationalCourtofJustice(ICJ),andsafeguardingitsoperatingconditions,aswellasthestrengtheningofotherpeacefulmeansofresolvingdisputes.

• FinlandsupportswideracceptanceofthepowersoftheInternationalCourtofJustice(ICJ)andstrengtheningtheinternationalnetworkoftreaties,interalia,byopposingcaveatsthatdilutetheirgoals.

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Fighting impunity

Fighting impunity for themost serious crimes of concern to theinternationalcommunityisoneofFinland’sUNpolicygoals.Statesshouldertheprimaryresponsibilityforinvestigating,prosecutingandsentencingcrimes.Therefore,attentionmustbepaidtotheindependenceand efficiency of national criminal justice systems and to theirdevelopment.Statesarealsoresponsibleforthepreventionofcrime,includingtheassociatedeffectiveactions.FinlandhighlightsthecentralroleofUNactorsintheseefforts.FinlandsupportstheInternationalCriminalCourt(ICC)includingitsTrustFund,andoperatesindifferentgroupsthatsupportthestatusoftheCourt.FinlandpaysparticularattentiontothefullandappropriaterespectfortherightsofvictimsofthemostseriouscrimesofconcerntotheinternationalcommunityasregardstrialsbytheCourt.NotwithstandingtheindependenceoftheICC,therelationshipbetweentheCourtandtheUNshouldbestrengthened.TheSecurityCouncilshouldactinthemostconsistentmannerintransferringcasestotheCourt,andthemonitoringroleoftheSecurityCouncilasregardssaidcasesshouldbeincreased.FinlandalsosupportstheappropriatecompletionofthecasesofadhocwarcrimetribunalsestablishedbytheUNandtheso-calledhybridtribunals,includingtheirresidualtasks.

• Finlandsupportsactionsthataimatpreventingimpunityandimprovingthestatusofvictims.

• AsamemberoftheBureauoftheASP(AssemblyofStatesPartiesoftheInternationalCriminalCourt)untillateautumnof2014,andasamemberof‘FriendsoftheICC’,FinlandsupportstheInternationalCriminalCourt.

• FinlandemphasisestheroleoftheSecurityCouncilinmonitoringthecasesithastransferredtotheICC,andtheneedtoincreaseitsmonitoringactivities.

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• FinlandalsomoregenerallyhighlightstheroleoftheSecurityCouncilintheeliminationofimpunitywithregardtotopicssuchasChildrenandArmedConflictandthe1325theme.

Humanitarian assistance

PursuanttoGeneralAssemblyResolution46/182theUNhastheleadingroleincoordinatinghumanitarianassistance.Inordertoeffectivelydeliverhumanitarianaidtothosewhoneedit,theUN-ledinternationalhumanitarianassistancesystemmustbesuitablypreparedandwell-coordinated.Eversince2005thehumanitarianassistancereformprocesshasimprovedaideffectiveness.TheeffectivenessofaidisalsooneoftheprioritiesofSecretary-GeneralBanKi-moon,andtheUNispresentlypreparingahumanitarianassistancesummitfor2015.Inthefuturemoreattentionmustbepaidtogoodmanagement,thequalityofpartnerships,theassessmentofeffectivenessandaccountability,andpromotingthesmoothcooperationoftheentireUNsystemindisasters.Itisimportantthattheinternationalassistancesystembeseenasimpartialandthehumanitarianprinciplesuniversal.This is also aprerequisite forexpandingthedonorbase.Atpresent,only60percentoftherequestsforannualemergencyaidfromtheUNarecovered.

Finlandprovideshumanrights-basedandneeds-basedhumanitarianassistance.Thebulkofassistanceisallocatedtothepoorestcountriesandfocusesonaidingthemostvulnerablepeople.Theneedsofthepeoplereceivingassistanceareseenasrightswhichtheinternationalcommunityisduty-boundtomeet.Therecipientsshouldbeheardintheprocessofplanningandmakingdecisions.

Finlanddoesnothaveanybilateralhumanitarianassistanceprojects.Rather,FinlandchannelsthebulkofitsassistanceinacentralisedmannerthroughtheUNsystem.InaccordancewiththeprinciplesofgoodhumanitariandonorshipFinlandhighlightstheimportanceofmultilateralcooperationandtheprimacyoftheUNsystemasahumanitarianactor.Humanitarianassistanceshouldbehumane,fair,

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impartialandindependent.FinlandactivelyendorsesacomprehensiveUNreform inhumanitarianassistance tomake itmoreeffective.Finland’sgoalistoguaranteethehumanity,impartiality,neutralityandindependenceofhumanitarianassistanceevenwhenmilitaryandcivildefenceresourcesarebeingusedinsupportofhumanitarianmissions.

InitsUNpolicyFinlandpromotesthestrengtheningofhumanitarianassistancebyproactivelyinfluencingtheboardsofUNbodies.Keychannelsofinfluencecomprisedirectcontactswithdifferentsecretariats,otherdonorcountriesandthepartnerswithwhomFinlandengagesindialogueaboutrespectingthehumanitarianprinciplesandensuringthattheaidreachesitstarget.

InthehumanitarianassistancesectorFinlandalsoprovidescorrectly-timedfundsinadvancebysigningmulti-yearfinancingcontractswithUNbodiesongeneralfunding,andexpeditesthedecision-makingprocessregardingtheprovisionofhumanitarianaid insituationsdemandinghumanitarianassistance.Inhumanitarianassistanceaswell,themultilateralassistanceanalysissteersthefocusingoffunding.

• Finlandisaresponsible,correctly-timedandpredictabledonorofUNhumanitarianassistance.

• InaccordancewiththeprinciplesofgoodhumanitariandonorshipFinlandhighlightstheimportanceofmultilateralcooperation,andtheprimacyoftheUNsystemasahumanitarianactor.

• FinlandpromotesthestrengtheningofhumanitarianassistancebyproactivelyinfluencingtheboardsofUNbodies.MostoftheinfluencingisdoneatorganisationsandfundstowhichFinlandmostlyprovideshumanitarianassistancefunding:theUNHCR,theWFP,UNICEF,theUNCentralEmergencyResponseFund(CERF),theWHO,theUNRWA,theOCHAandtheCommonHumanitarianFund(CHF)forSomaliaadministeredbytheUNDP.Investmentsinotherorganisationswillonlybemadeasanexception,inaccordancewiththeprinciplesofhumanitarianassistance,onthebasisofneed.

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Keychannelsofinfluencecomprisedirectcontactswithdifferentsecretariats,otherdonorcountriesandFinland’spartnercountries.

Key UN Funds, Programmes and Specialised Agencies supported by Finland

ThefollowingisalistofthekeyUNfunds,programmesandspecialisedagenciesthatFinlandsupports.Therecipientsofthelargestfundingarementionedfirst,followedbyprogrammesandspecialisedagencies,andhumanitarianaidorganisations.ThefocusofFinland’sfuturefundingisalsoaffectedbytheresultsofthemultilateralassistanceevaluation,andtheguidelinesdefinedonsaidresultsasregardsfuturefunding,andthedefinitionsofFinland’scooperationgoalsthroughspecialstrategies.

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

FinlandisoneofthebiggestprovidersofgeneralfundingtoUNFPA,andaninternationallyimportantactor inthesectorofsexualandreproductivehealthandrights.TheUNFPAsupportsthememberstates’governmentsinquestionsrelatedtopopulationanddevelopment.Itaimsatprovidinguniversalaccesstosexualandreproductivehealthandrights,promotingreproductivehealthrights,andreducingmaternalmortalitywithintheframeworkoftheICPD5ProgrammeofAction(PoA)andinternationallyadopteddevelopmentgoals.

ThepromotionofsexualandreproductivehealthandrightsareincludedinthecoremandateoftheUNFPA.InsupportingtheachievementsoftheMilleniumDevelopmentGoals,theUNFPAisengaged,inparticular,withsexualandreproductivehealthandrightsgoalsthathavesufferedfromslowprogress,aswellasthepromotionofgenderequalityandempoweringwomen.ThesearekeygoalsforFinland.TheUNFPAalsoprovideshumanitarianassistance.

5InternationalConferenceonPopulationandDevelopmentinCairo,1994

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United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

FinlandsupportstheactivitiesoftheUNDPthroughsignificantcoreandprojectfunding,andbysponsoringFinnishJuniorProfessionalOfficersandUNvolunteerswithintheagency.Inaddition,FinlandprovidesfundingtotheHumanitarianCountryTeaminSomalia.TheUNDPsupportsthestrengtheningofdevelopingcountries’capacitiesinplanning,politicalcoordinationandimplementationatcountrylevel.Also,itchairstheUnitedNationsDevelopmentGroup(UNDG)andcoordinates,mostlyatthecountrylevel,theentireUNsystemaspartofUNdevelopmentsectorreformwhichhasbeenapriorityforFinland.Whenitcomestopromotingdemocracy,goodgovernanceandhumanrightstheUNDPisoneofFinland’smostimportantpartnersintheUNsystem.TheUNDPsupportsthestrengtheningofdemocracythroughthedevelopmentoflegislationandgovernance.InthehumanrightssectortheUNDPhassupporteditspartnercountriesinimprovingandstrengtheningactionplansandinstitutions.TheUNDP’sworkisimportantincrisispreventionandrecovery,anditalsoprovideshumanitarian assistance. Finlandhas supported the cooperationbetweentheUNDPandthesecretariatoftheUNDepartmentofPoliticalAffairsintheInter-AgencyFrameworkTeamforPreventiveAction.InhumanitarianassistancetheagencyisresponsibleforthecoordinationoftheClusterWorkingGrouponEarlyRecovery.Inaddition,itadministerscountry-levelgeneralfundingforhumanitarianassistance,togetherwiththeOCHA.

United Nations Partnership to Promote the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD)

TheUNPartnershiptoPromotetheRightsofPersonswithDisabilities(UNPRPD) operates under theUNDP. Finland allocates generalfundingforthepurposeofpromotingthehumanrightsofpersonswithdisabilities.ThegoaloftheUNPRPDistodevelopthelocalandnationalactors’capabilitiesinimplementingtheConventionontheRightsofPersonswithDisabilities.TheUNPRPDisapartnershipestablishedbysixagencies(theUNDP,UNICEF,theILO,theWHO,the

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UNDESAandtheOHCHR)andadministeredbytheMulti-PartnerTrustFundOfficeoftheUNDP,whichprimarilyfundsthecountryteamsofparticipatingUNagenciesandprovidesexpertassistancewithregardtotherightsofdisabledpersons.TheUNPRPDaimstomainstreamthehumanrightsofpersonswithdisabilitiesaspartofallUNcountry-levelactivities,inadditiontowhichitfundscountryprogrammesinpromotingemploymentopportunitiesfordisabledpersons,educatingdisabledchildrenandyouthandinimprovingthevocationalskillsofdisabledpersons,amongotherthings.

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

Finland isa long-timesupporterofUNICEF.ThroughUNICEF itchannels a sizeable assessed contribution annually. In addition,FinlandsupportsUNICEFwithprojectfundingoneducation,waterandsanitation,andsponsorsFinnishJuniorProfessionalOfficersandUNvolunteerswithintheagency.ThemissionofUNICEFisbasedontheConventionontheRightsoftheChild.Itaimsatstrengtheningthecapacitiesofpartnercountriesinpromotingtherightsofchildrengloballybyimplementingahumanrights-basedapproach.Theagencyfocusesonhumandevelopmentand,particularlychildhealth,theeducationanddevelopmentofchildprotectionandsocialprotectionsystems.Byinvestinginchildrenand,especiallyintheeducationofgirlsitispossibletoreducepovertyandsupportdevelopment.UNICEFisalsoanimportantactorinhumanitarianassistance.Ithaswide-rangingresponsibilitiesforcoordinationinhumanitariancrises.UNICEFleadstheNutritionandWASH(water,sanitation,andhygiene)Clusters,ithasco-leadershipoftheEducationClusterandtheresponsibilityforchildprotectionwithintheGlobalProtectionClusterledbytheUNHCR.

United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and for the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)

FinlandactivelypromotesgenderequalityissuesintheUNandinitsmemberstates,interalia,bysupportingtheUNEntityforGenderEqualityandtheEmpowermentofWomen(UNWomen).Inrecentyears

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FinlandhassignificantlyincreaseditsfundingforUNWomenandisoneofitsbiggestcorefundersatpresent.InadditiontothecorefundingFinlandsupportsvariousprojectsofUNWomenandsponsorsFinnishJuniorProfessionalOfficersandUNVolunteerswithintheagency.UNWomenpromotesgenderequality,andadvancestherightsandstatusofwomenandgirlswithintheUNsystemaswellasatthecountrylevel.Itworksfortheparticipationandleadershipofwomen,thepreventionofviolenceagainstwomen,advancingtheroleofwomeninconflictresolution,theeconomicempowermentofwomenandtheinclusionofgenderequality-relatedissuesinmemberstates’nationaldecision-making,planningandbudgeting.UNWomenisalsoresponsiblefortheimplementationoftheUnitedNationsSystem-WideActionPlan(UN-SWAP).

United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)

FinlandisoneofthebiggestdonorsofUNAIDS.ThecentralthemesforFinlandintheworkofUNAIDSareadvancinghumanrightsandimprovingthestandingofwomen,especially,childrenandmarginalisedgroups,sexualandreproductivehealthandrights,andprovidingsexualeducationforyouth.UNAIDSworksforimprovingthepreventionandtreatmentofHIV/AIDS,malariaandotherdiseases,andsupportingtheimplementationofcommitmentsmadeintheGeneralAssemblySpecialSessionsonHIV/AIDS.Inaccordancewithapre-agreeddivisionofresponsibilitiesUNAIDScoordinatestheworkofelevenCo-sponsoringOrganisationsthatsupporttheprogramme(theUNHCR,UNICEF,theWFP,theUNDP,theUNFPA,UNWomen,theUNODC,theILO,UNESCO,theWHOandtheWorldBank).UNAIDShasputHIV/AIDSontheglobalagendaandhelpedinmakingpoliticiansunderstandthatHIV/AIDSisnotonlyahealthissuebut,rather,afactorthatalsoaffectssocialprogressandeconomicgrowthaswellashumanrightsandsecurity.

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United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

UNEPistheleadingactorinenvironmentalissuesattheUNlevel,anditsroleisincreasingalongwiththedesiretointensifyinternationalcooperationinquestionsrelatedtosustainabledevelopment.UNEPplaysanimportantroleinlaunchingmultilateralenvironmentalnegotiationsaimedat internationalclimateconventionsand insupporting theimplementationofmultilateralenvironmentalagreements.Inaddition,UNEPgeneratesscientificinformationontheenvironmenttosupportpoliticaldecision-making.

Finlandhasconsistentlytriedtostrengthenthemandate,statusandeffectivemanagementofUNEP.Thelong-termgoalistotransformUNEPintoaUNspecialisedagencywhichwouldalsostrengthenitsfinancialbase.ThusfarUNEP’sfinancingbaseisformedofvoluntarycontributionswithFinlandbeingoneofUNEP’smostimportantdonors,especiallyasregardscorefunding.WithinUNEPFinlandhasfocusedon supporting the implementationofmultilateral environmentalagreements in developing countries, strengthening internationalenvironmental governance aspart ofUN-level efforts aswell asquestionsrelatedtotheenvironmentandsecurity.WhenitcomestoissuesrelatedtoUNEPtheleadingauthorityinFinlandistheMinistryofEnvironment.TheMinistryforForeignAffairs(MFA)isresponsibleforthecorefundingofUNEP,andforothervoluntaryfunding.

United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT)

ThefocusareasofUN-HABITATarewell-designedandmanaged,sustainableandefficientcitiesandcommunities,thosewithsufficienturbaninfrastructureandwhoseinhabitantshaveaccesstoemployment,landuseandbasicservicessuchashousing,waterandsanitation,energyandmobility.UN-HABITATsupportsthecommitmentandknow-howofcountriesandlocalauthoritiesincreatingandimplementingasoundbasicurbaninfrastructurepolicy.

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Finlandisanimportant,long-timesupporterofUN-HABITAT.Finland’sfundingisdirectedtoUN-HABITAT’scorebudgetinitsentirety(ratherthanindividualprojects),whichUN-HABITAThasgreatlyappreciated.

World Health Organization (WHO)

TheWHOisFinland’smostimportantpartnerinthedevelopmentof global health policy. In Finland theMinistry of SocialAffairsandHealth,incooperationwiththeMinistryforForeignAffairs,isresponsibleforimplementingWHO-relatedpolicy.InadditiontoitsassessedcontributionFinlandsupportstheWHOthroughdevelopmentcooperationfundswithcoreandearmarkedfunding,andbysponsoringFinnishJuniorProfessionalOfficersandUNVolunteerswithintheagency.TheWHOisanormativespecialisedagencyoftheUNsystem:ithasleadershipofglobalhealthpolicy,actsasanexpertorganisation,andbuildsalong-termhealthpolicy.Itsetsinternationalstandardsandnormsforhealthcareandadvancestheirimplementation.TheWHOhasanimportantroleinfocusingthedirectionofresearchandintheapplicationofresearchresults.Italsomonitorstheglobalhealthsituationandgenerateshealthstatistics.TheWHOsupportsdevelopingcountriesinestablishinghealthcaresystemsandattemptstoimproveaccesstomedicinestherein.Asregardshumanitarianassistance,theWHOisresponsibleforcoordinatingtheGlobalHealthCluster.

United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

TheMinistryofAgricultureandForestryistheleadministryresponsibleforFinnishcooperationwithandforFinland’sassessedcontributiontotheUnitedNationsFoodandAgricultureOrganization(FAO).TheMFAisresponsibleforthedevelopmentandhumanitarianfundingallocatedtotheFAO.TheFAOhasbeenanimportantpartnerforFinlandinpromotingsustainablemanagementofnaturalresourcesandclimatechangeadaptationandmitigationindevelopingcountries.FinlandhassupportedtheFAO’sthematicprojectsrelatedtosustainableforestry,climate-smartagricultureandlandregistration.Furthermore,Finlandhassupportedtheagency’scountryprogrammesinKyrgyzstan,the

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Balkans,ZambiaandTanzania,amongothers.TheFoodandAgricultureOrganizationoftheUnitedNations(FAO)isaspecialisedagencyoftheUNwhichfocusesonagriculture,forestryandfisheries.ThepredominantpositionofagricultureineliminatinghungerandpovertygivestheFAOanimportantroleininternationaldevelopmentpolicy.InadditiontheFAOhasco-leadershipoftheWFP’sGlobalFoodSecurityCluster,basedinRome.Theclustercoordinatesthefoodresponseduringhumanitariancrises,addressingissuesoffoodavailability,accessandutilisation.

International Labour Organization (ILO)

TheMinistryofEmploymentandtheEconomyis responsible forFinland’sassessedcontributiontotheILO.Inaddition,supporthasbeenprovidedbyusingdevelopmentcooperationandneighbouringareacooperationfundsto,interalia,eliminatechildlabour,improvethestatusofpersonswithdisabilitiesinthelabourmarket,improvetheemploymentofwomen,andtocreatejobsinasustainablegreeneconomy.ThemaingoalsoftheILOincludethereductionofpoverty,andthepromotionofsocialjustice,genderequalityandemployment.Aspecialfeatureoftheagencyisitstripartiteadministrativestructurewhich includes the representativesofgovernments,workersandemployers. The ILOworks for the development of internationallabourstandards,legalinstrumentsforlabourandthelabourmarketsystem.Moreover,itpromotesthefreedomofspeechandassembly.Strengtheninggenderequality, thestatusofwomenandchildrenandminoritiesisacentralcross-cuttingtheme.InrecentyearsdecentworkhasbeenoneoftheILO’sprioritiesandtheILOhasdevelopedregionalandcountryprogrammestosupportpromotionofdecentworkespeciallyindevelopingcountries.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

Educationandtraining,scienceandresearch,cultureandanindependentandaccountablemedia,allwithinthepurviewofUNESCO,arepivotal

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inconflictpreventionandcounter-terrorism.FinlandvaluesUNESCO’sactivitiesintheimplementationoftheUnitedNationsMillenniumDeclarationandindraftingthepost-2015developmentagenda.

ThroughUNESCOFinlandhasmanagedtoimproveandwidenitsinternationalculturalrelations.TheagencyhasalsoprovidednewstimulitoFinnisheducation,scienceandculturepolicy.Interculturaleducation,lifelonglearning,protectingculturalheritage,sustainabledevelopment,researchingtheearth’swaterproblems,andpeaceandconflictstudiesareexamplesofUNESCO’sactivitieswhichareimportanttoFinland.

Finland’sobjectivesinUNESCO’sactivitiesfocusonquestionsinwhichtheagencycangeneratebetteraddedvaluethanotherinternationalactors. InFinland’sviewthemost importantareasareeducation,communicationsandtheICTsector.Promotingthestatusofwomenandgirls,especiallythrougheducationisaspecialpriorityareaforFinland.FinlandunderscoresUNESCO’sroleinprotectinghumanrightsand,particularly,freedomofspeechandthepress.FinlandsupportsUNESCO’sfreedomofspeechprojectsinNorthAfricaandtheMiddleEastwithsubstantialfunding.

TheMinistryofEducationandCulture(MEC),inclosecooperationwith theMFA, is responsible for the implementationofFinland’sUNESCOpolicy.WhereastheMECisresponsibleforFinland’sassessedcontributiontoUNESCO,theMFAseestothevoluntaryfundinggiventotheagency.Thereisanattempttoimprovetheeffectivenessofthelatterbyconcentratingthefunding.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

TheIAEAisanindependentorganisation‘intheUnitedNationsfamily’whosemissionistopromotetheuseofnuclearenergyforpeacefulpurposes,andtoensurethatfissionablematerialsunderitssupervisionorcontrolnotbetransferredtomilitaryorotherpurposes,inaccordancewiththeprovisionsoftheTreatyontheNon-ProliferationofNuclearWeapons(NPT).TheworkoftheIAEAisbuiltonthreepillars:1.Nuclear

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safetyandcounter-nuclearterrorism,2.Nuclearscienceandtechnology,and3.Nuclearverification.InadditiontoitsannualcontributionFinlandsupportstheIAEA’sTechnicalCooperationFundandNuclearSecurityFund.

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

TheUnitedNationsOfficeonDrugsandCrime(UNODC),partoftheUNSecretariatandreportingtotheCommissiononCrimePreventionandCriminalJusticeandtheCommissiononNarcoticDrugs(CND),actsasatreatybodythatmanagesandsupervisesthetreatiesinthissector.Inaddition,theUNODCmanagesthedevelopmentwithintheUN,suchastheUnitedNationsInternationalDrugControlProgramme.Inthemeetingsofcommissionsandtheirsub-groupsFinlandisrepresentedbysectoralministries,supportedbytheEmbassyofFinlandinVienna.Finlandprovidesannualassessedcontributiontothedrugcontrolprogramme.Inaddition,FinlandsupportstheUNODC’scountry-leveldevelopmentprogrammeinAfghanistan.

UNU World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER)

FinlandsupportstheUNU-WIDERinstitutesituatedinHelsinkithroughcorefundingandprojectsupport.TheUNU-WIDERisoneofthe12researchinstitutionsoftheUnitedNationsUniversity.Themainfocusoftheinstituteistocarryoutresearchseekingtoidentifysolutionstoglobaldevelopmentproblemsandanalysetheglobaleconomy.Theinstituteaimsatencouragingresearch,furthereducationandthedisseminationofinformationinthefield,andpromotingthedevelopmentofformsofinternationaleconomiccooperation.WIDERattemptstosupporttheachievementoftheMDGs,inparticularthroughstrengtheningtheresearchandanalysiscapacitiesofdevelopingcountries.Theinstitute’sresearchprogrammefor2012-2014encompasses the ‘triplecrises’(finance,food,andclimatechange).

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Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

TheUNHCRistherefugeeagencyoftheUN,mandatedtoimplementhumanitarianassistanceandtheprotectionofrefugees.PursuanttotheGenevaConventions6,arefugeeissomeonewho“owingtoawell-foundedfearofbeingpersecutedforreasonsofrace,religion,nationality,membershipofaparticularsocialgrouporpoliticalopinion,isoutsidethecountryofhisnationality…”.Inaddition,theUNHCRisresponsibleforassistingInternallyDisplacedPersons(IDP).Astheshareofthelattergroupiscontinuallyontherise,theoriginaltasksoftheUNHCRhaveexpanded.However,IDPsarenotincludedintheoriginalmandateoftheUNHCR.Moreover,thetasksoftheUNHCRalsocoverthesmallergroupofstatelesspeople.TheUNHCRplaysacentralroleintheUNhumanitarianassistancesystem,itisresponsibleforrefugeecrisesandtheGlobalProtectionCluster.Theagency’sforteisitswell-functioningfieldorganisation.TheUNHCRistheagencythatreceivesthemosthumanitarianaidcontributionsfromFinland.AttheMFAtheUnitforHumanitarianAssistancecooperatesonUNHCR-relatedactivitieswiththeUnitforHumanRightsPolicy,theMinistryoftheInteriorandtheMinistryofEmploymentandtheEconomy.

World Food Programme (WFP)

TheWorldFoodProgramme(WFP)isanoperationalprogrammeoftheUNwhich,owingtoitsdualmandate,usesfoodassistanceforhumanitarianpurposesandforthepromotionofeconomicandsocialdevelopment.Nonetheless,themainstressliesonhumanitarianaid,whichwillcontinuethroughoutthefollowingstrategicplanperiodof2014-2017.TheWFPistheleadagencyoftheUNhumanitarianassistanceLogisticsClusterandtheEmergencyTelecommunicationsCluster.Inaddition,ithasco-leadershipoftheFoodSecurityClusterwiththeFAO.TheWFPbelongstotheUNcategory‘FundsandProgrammes’,anditreportstotheECOSOCandtheFAOCouncil.TheWFPisoneof

6UnitedNationsConventionrelatingtotheStatusofRefugees

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Finland’slargesthumanitarianassistancechannels.AttheMFAtheUnitforHumanitarianAssistanceisresponsibleforissuesrelatedtotheWFP.

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

PursuanttoGeneralAssemblyResolution46/182theUNhastheleadingroleincoordinatinghumanitarianassistance.TheOCHAalsoleadstheInterAgencyStandingCommittee(IASC)indevelopingthehumanitarianassistancesystem.TheOCHAispartoftheUNSecretariatwhich,inadditiontotheheadquartersinNewYorkandGeneva,operatesanextensivenetworkofregionalandfieldoffices.TheOCHA’sstrategicframeworkfor2010-2013definesthreegoals:1.Amoreenablingenvironmentforhumanitarianaction,2.Amoreeffectivehumanitariancoordinationsystem,and3.TostrengthenOCHAmanagementandadministration.

United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA)

TheUNRWAisaUNagencyadministeringtoPalestinianrefugees.ItsmandatecoversthePalestinians livingintheWestBank,GazaStrip,Jordan,LebanonandSyria.Thesedaysthereareapproximately4.8millionPalestinianrefugeesunderthemandateoftheUNRWA.Populationgrowthhasbeenrapidbecausein1950thecorrespondingfigurewasbelowonemillion.ThesituationofPalestinianrefugeesvariesgreatlyfromcountrytocountryinthearea,asdothechallengesrelatedtotheirstatusandtheactivitiesoftheUNRWA.OverthecourseofdecadestheroleoftheUNRWAhaschangedfromitsoriginalpurpose.WhereastheUNRWAwasfoundedforthepurposeofhumanitarianassistance,itlaterbecameanactorindevelopmentcooperationandastate-likeproviderofbasicservicestothePalestinians.EducationandhealthcarearetheUNRWA’sbiggestsectors,andtheagencyisanimportantemployerofthePalestinians(over30000employees).Theagencymaintains58refugeecampsinhabitedbyapproximately1.4millionpeopleinneedofaid.InFinlandtheMFA’sUnitforHumanitarianAssistanceisresponsibleforcoordinatingtheactivitiesoftheUNRWA,togetherwiththeUnitfortheMiddleEastandNorthAfrica.

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United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS)

TheUnitedNationsMineActionService(UNMAS)isresponsibleforhumanitarianmineaction,anditsscopeiswide-ranging.TheUNMASoperatesunder theauthorityof theDepartmentofPeacekeepingOperations(DPKO).TheprimaryfunctionoftheUNMASistocoordinatemineactionandtodisbursefundstothecooperatingorganisations.TheeconomiccrisishasimpactedthefinancialsituationoftheUNMASbecausedonorcountrieshavecuttheirgeneralfunding.TheMFA’sUnitforHumanitarianAssistanceisresponsibleforcoordinatingtheactivitiesoftheUNMAS,togetherwiththeUnitforArmsControlatthePoliticalDepartmentoftheMFA.

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR)

TheUNISDRsecretariatwasfoundedin1999tocoordinatetheworkoftheUNsysteminthepreventionofdisasterrisks.Thefunctionofthesecretariatistoincreaseawarenessaboutnaturaldisastersandcoordinatetheimplementationoftheso-calledHyogoFrameworkforAction,includingassociatedreporting.EventhoughtheUNISDRisfundamentallyadevelopmentactor, theUnitforHumanitarianAssistancehassofarhadtheresponsibilityofcoordinatingtheactivitiesconcerningit.AtthenationalleveltheMinistryoftheInteriorleadsandcoordinatestheworkoftheHyogonetwork,includingperiodicreportingtotheUN.

UN reform

Strengtheningthecapacityoftheworldorganisationisacross-cuttinggoalinFinland’sUNpolicy.FinlandconsidersthatthefoundingoftheHumanRightsCouncil,UNWomenandthePeacebuildingCommission,andthereformsmadeinhumanitarianassistanceserveasgoodexamplesofsuccessfulreform.

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Finlandcontinuestopromotethereformsadoptedinthe2005High-levelPlenaryMeetingoftheGeneralAssembly.WhenitcomestothecompositionoftheSecurityCouncilFinlandsupportsincreasingthenumberofpermanentandnon-permanentmembers,exceptwithoutanextensionoftherightofveto.FinlandhasexpresslyemphasisedtheneedforbetterrepresentationofAfricanstatesintheCouncil.InSecurityCouncilreformFinlandconsidersitimportanttoimprovepractices,provideopportunitiestoheartheopinionofexperts,effectivelyemploytheearly-warningsystem,andincreasetransparency.Finland,foritspart,aimstoimprovetheactivitiesoftheGeneralAssemblyby,amongotherthings,organisingaplanningsessionforthePresidentoftheGeneralAssemblyandthechairsofitscommittees.FinlandalsosupportsstreamliningthestructuresoftheEconomicandSocialCouncil.Sufficientresourcesandoperatingconditionsmustbesafeguardedforthehumanrightsmonitoring framework,while respecting its independence.FinlandsupportsbettereffectivenessandaccountabilityinreformingtheSecretariataswellasincreasingtheindependentcapacityoftheSecretary-General.

Guaranteeing a stable financial situation for the UN throughimprovementsinbudgetarydisciplineandtheSecretariat’scost-efficiencyisoneofFinland’sgoals.Furthermore,FinlandconsidersitimportanttostrengthenthefinancingbaseoftheUN,includingincreasingtheshareofassessedcontributionsoftheemergingeconomies.FinlandstrivestoguaranteesufficientresourcestotheUN,especiallywithregardtotheactivitiesthatbelongtoFinland’spriorityareas.Also,FinlandinfluencestheGeneralAssembly’sFifthCommitteewhichhandlesbudgetaryandadministrativeaffairs,soastoachievethesegoals.Inpractice,achievingtheresultsrequiresallocatingresourcesfromtheprogrammebudget,peacekeepingbudgetandthebudgetforinternationaltribunals.

Coordinatedactionandsufficientlyrobustmonitoringmechanismsareexpectedof theUNsoastosupportandpromotesustainabledevelopmentby,forexample,reformingtheenvironmentalgovernanceoftheUN.Finlandstrivestowardsthestrengtheningoftheexistingstructuresininternationalenvironmentalgovernance.Hence, it is

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elementaltoimproveandstrengthentheactivitiesofUNEPonthebasisoftheresultsoftheRio+20conferences.

FinlandsupportsstrengtheningtheeffectivenessandcoherenceoftheoperationalagenciesoftheUN,attheHeadquartersandfieldlevelalike.The‘OneUN’concepthasaimedatimprovingcooperationatcountrylevelinfourareas:oneprogramme,onebudget/onefund,oneleader,andoneoffice.FurtherdevelopmentinthedivisionoflabourandcooperationwithinthedevelopmentsectormustalsocontinueattheHeadquarterslevel,suchasinreformingtheECOSOC.

FinlandholdstheopinionthattheUNplaysacentralroleincoordinatingthemanagementofglobalisation.ThecooperativearrangementsoftheUNinrelationtotheWorldBank,theInternationalMonetaryFundandtheWorldTradeOrganisationneedtobeimprovedsoastoincreaseefficiencyandeffectiveness,andtoavoidunnecessaryduplication.TheworkoftheChiefExecutives´BoardforCoordination(CEB),ledbytheSecretary-General,supportsthisgoal.

FinlandendorsesimprovementsincooperationbetweentheUNandcivilsociety,andtheprivatesector.TheopportunitiesforcivilsocietyandtheprivatesectortoparticipateinandpresenttheirviewsinUNbodies,atsummitmeetingsandintheirfollow-upmechanismsmustbeincreased.

• StrengtheningtheeffectivenessandcapacityoftheUNsystemisacross-cuttinggoalinFinland’sUNpolicy.

• Thecoordinating roleof theUNmustbe safeguarded in thedevelopmentofglobalgovernance.

• FinlandendorsesakeyrolefortheUNinpromotingsustainabledevelopment,andstrengtheningtheinternationalenvironmentalgovernance.

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• SufficientresourcesfortheUNmustbeguaranteedbyimprovingthedisciplineaccordingtowhichthememberstatesdisbursetheirassessmentsandthroughtheSecretariat’scost-efficiency.

• FinlandsupportstheincreaseofinteractionbetweentheUNandcivilsociety,andtheprivatesector.

CHANNELS OF INFLUENCE AND COOPERATION PARTNERS

Increasing the effectiveness of Finland’s UN policy

Finland’sgoalsatthemultilateral,bilateralandEUlevelssupportandcomplementeachother.ByactivelymonitoringtheworkandUNpoliciesofUNactorsincountriesthatareofprimeimportancetoFinland’sownUNpolicyitispossibletoimproveourprospectsofwieldinginfluenceatthecountrylevelandontheboardsofUNbodies,amongothers.

FromthestandpointoftheeffectivenessofFinland’sUNpolicythefollowingchannelsareelemental:

Influencing the UN through the EU

TheEU’sCommonForeign and SecurityPolicyhas significantlydevelopedduringthepastdecade:thishasimpactedthestatusoftheEUintheUNand,consequently,Finland’sUNpolicyaswell.TheEUisFinland’smostimportantreferencegroupandchannelinUNpolicyandFinlandactivelyendeavourstostrengthentheroleandstatusoftheEUwithintheUN.ItisimportantthatFinlandactivelypresentitsviewsinEUdecision-making,andsupporttheEU’sjointactionwhenEUMemberStatesformulatetheircommonforeignrelationspolicyinBrussels,NewYork,otherUNcities,aswellaswhenpreparingforUNmeetingsandfollow-upprocesses.Finlandregardsthattheroleofthe

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CouncilworkinggroupfortheUnitedNations(CONUN)asaplanningandcoordinatingbodyshouldbestrengthened.

TheLisbonTreaty,whichtheEUadoptedon13December2007,ledtothecreationoftheEuropeanExternalActionServiceand,consequently,ahigherprofilefortheEUininternationalbodies.Finlandsupportsthestrengtheningoftherole,profile,capacityandpracticesoftheEUintheUN.However,theEU’saction,especiallyintheUN,hasnotdevelopedquitethewayinwhichFinlandhopeditwould.ThisisoneofthereasonswhyitmustberememberedthatEUcooperationdoesnoteliminatetheneedforanationalUNpolicy,orNordiccooperation.

Influencing the UN through the Nordic Group

TheNordiccountriesareanimportantreferencegroupforFinlandintheUN,andNordiccooperationisanintegralelementofFinland’sUNpolicy.TraditionalcooperationinUNcandidaciesandreformshaslaidthefoundationforNordiccooperation.NordicrepresentationcomplementsEUinfluencing.JointNordicstatementsintheSecurityCouncilandresolutionsintheGeneralAssembly’sThirdCommitteeserveasgoodexamplesofthis.

FinlandconsidersthatanopendebateontheimportanceandmeansofNordiccooperationisapositivephenomenonthroughwhichtheNordiccountriescansuccessfullypursuetheirissuesofimportanceandvalueswithintheUNsystem.

AnnualmeetingsoftheheadsofUNaffairsatNordicandBalticforeignministriesareanestablishedtraditioninNordic-Balticcooperation.ThesameappliestotheannualNordicconsultationswiththeUNEnvironmentProgramme(UNEP).

InadditiontoactiveNordiccooperationFinlandalsowieldsinfluenceoninternationaldevelopmentquestionsthroughtheso-calledNordic+Group(Nordiccountries,theUnitedKingdom,theNetherlandsandIreland)asregardsaideffectiveness,coordination,harmonisation,

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resultsandcoherenceofdevelopmentassistance.Nordic+cooperationcanmarkedlyaffecttheworkoftheUNanditsagencies,fundsandprogrammesatthecountrylevel.Atthesametimethisservesasagoodexampleofhowregionalcooperationandmultilateraleffortssupportandcomplementeachother.

Elected offices in UN Bodies

ElectedofficesbringvisibilitytoFinlandandprovidebetter-than-normalandmoreconcreteoptionsforparticipationandinfluenceinthehandlingofvariousissuesindifferentbodies.FinlandintendstocontinuepursuingelectedofficesindifferentbodiesoftheUN.Thisalsoappliestoactionwhenrepresentingthegroupofwesternnationsindifferentbureaux.

Influencing the boards of Programmes, Funds and Specialised Agencies

FinlandactivelyparticipatesintheworkoftheexecutiveboardsoftheUNdevelopmentprogrammesandfundswhichitsupportsinaccordancewiththeagreedrotation,andasamemberorobserver.ThespecialfocusisonthoseprogrammesandfundswhichreceiveconsiderablefundingfromFinland.OnthebasisofthestrategicanalysisofFinland’smultilateraldevelopmentcooperation,andtheGovernment’sDevelopmentPolicyProgramme,theMinistryforForeignAffairswilldraftspecialstrategiesforallimportantprogrammesandfunds.

Finlandconsistentlylobbiesthedecision-makingofspecialisedagenciesintheGeneralAssemblyand,aspertheirrotationarrangements,ontheirexecutiveboards.Specialisedagenciesplayacentralroleindevelopingnormativework,andtheyalsoprovidetechnicalexpertisetothemembernations.

InJanuary2013FinlandwaselectedPresidentoftheExecutiveBoardofUNICEF,andispresentlyacandidateformembershipintheUNESCOWorldHeritageCommitteeforthe2013-2017period.

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Recruiting Finns to UN positions

ThroughtheircompetenceFinnshavemadeanimportantcontributiontotheactivitiesoftheUN.Sufficientlyqualitative,substantiveandwiderepresentationintheUNSecretariat,specialisedagenciesandoperationalagenciesaswellasfieldactivitiesisalsoimportantfromthestandpointofpromotingFinland’sUNobjectives.InadditiontotheJuniorProfessionalOfficer(JPO)programmeFinlandsupportstheplacementofFinnishcandidatesinmid-levelandexecutivepositions,atboththeUNHeadquartersandfieldlevelalike.TheUNSecretariathasparticularlyrequestedthatfemalecandidatesapplyfordifferentmid-levelandexecutivepositions.Finland’sforeignmissionsplayacentralroleinidentifyingthepostedUNpositionsandactivelysupportingtheelectionofFinnishcandidates.Athome,theMinistryforForeignAffairsincreasinglytakeschargeinmonitoringrecruitmentissuesdonebydifferentbodiesconcernedwithUNaffairs.

Domestic cooperation

Cooperation between the authorities

WhiletheForeignServiceisresponsibleforUNpolicy,manyotherministriesandauthoritiesalsomanageUN-relatedmatters,pursuanttotheGovernmentAct(175/2003).

Questionsrelatedtocomprehensivesecurity,suchastheeradicationof poverty, health and sustainable development, have gainedprominenceinrecentyears.This,foritspart,hasincreasedtheneedforintersectoralpoliticalsteeringandcooperation.Othertopicsthatrequireanintersectoralapproachincludequestionsrelatedtothestatusofwomenandsocialdevelopment,populationandnarcoticsissues,humantraffickingandviolenceaswellashealthissuesandtheimpactofmigrations.

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From the standpoint of the effectiveness of Finland’sUNpolicy,cooperationandinteractionbetweentheForeignServiceandtheotherauthoritiesmustbecloseandconstructive.Thiscooperationandthedivisionofdutiesmustbefurtherimproved.Properlyworkingrelationsbetweendifferentactorsisaprerequisiteforefficientcooperation.Thisdoesnotnecessarilymeantheestablishmentofanynewstructures.Rather,itisaboutidentifyingnewandnovelpractices.

Cooperation with Parliament

RegulardialoguewithParliamentonUNmatterswillcontinue.TheMinistryforForeignAffairscloselycooperateswiththeForeignAffairsCommittee.AspartofthiscooperationtheCommitteepaysannualvisitstotheUNHeadquarters.ThedialogueregardingtheUNandcooperationonUN-relatedmattersalsocontinuewithParliament’sotherbodiesandgroups.

Cooperation with civil society

Civilsociety’sinterestinUN-relatedtopicsisavaluableandsignificantasset toFinland.Thekeypartnersof theMFA,alongside theUNAssociationofFinlandareFinland’sUNICEF,UNWomen,theFinnishLeagueforHumanRights,AmnestyInternationalFinland,theFamilyFederationofFinland,theFinnishRefugeeCouncil.CrisisManagementInitiative(CMI),FinnChurchAid(FCA)andcertainotherNGOshaveactivelyparticipatedinthedevelopmentofmediation,amongotherthings.TheMFAalsofinanciallysupportsthemandencouragesFinnishNGOstocloselycooperatewithUNbodiesthatarerelevantfromtheirstandpoint.

TheMFA,togetherwiththeUNAssociationofFinland,hasorganisedregularmeetingswithNGOsthatmonitorUN-relatedmatterssoastobeabletotaketheirpositionsintoaccountinchoosingthepriorityareasinFinland’sUNpolicy,andsothattheNGOsreceiveinformationabouttheauthorities’UN-relatedactivities.TheparticipationofNGOsinUNmeetingswillbepromotedtogetherwiththeUNAssociationof

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Finland.Thedecades-longpracticeofayouthdelegateparticipatinginthemeetingoftheGeneralAssemblywillbecontinuedandimproved.Finlandalsosupportsthestrengtheningofcivilsociety’sroleintheactivitiesoftheUNattheinternationallevel.ThisworkappliesequallytotheNGOsrighttoactivelyparticipateindifferentUNmeetingsandthepossibilitiesforthemtoinfluencethedraftagendaeandfollow-upofthemeetings.

ThetriptotheGeneralAssemblyfortherepresentativesofpoliticalparties(so-calledpolegates) isorganisedeveryautumn.TheMFAcloselycooperateswithFinnishuniversitiesandresearchinstitutesondifferentUN-relatedtopics.UniversitiesandresearchinstituteshaveparticipatedindraftingthisStrategyinconnectionwithseminars,amongotherthings.

TheMFAhasorganisedpublicmeetingsontopicalforeignandsecuritypolicyissues,suchastheUN,invariouspartsofFinland.ThishasalsobeenthecasewiththedraftingofthisStrategy.

Implementing the UN Strategy

TheimplementationofthisStrategywillbemonitoredwithintheframeworkoftheForeignService’snormalplanning,follow-upandassessmentsystems,themostimportantofwhicharetheoperatingandfinancialplansandannualplans.ThegoalsoftheStrategyalsosteerthepreparationoftheannualGeneralAssemblyprioritisation,atwhichtime,accordingtotheestablishedpractice,civilsocietywillbeheard.Parliament’sForeignAffairsCommitteewillbeinformedoftheannualpriorityareasandoftheirrealisation.

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APPENDIX 2: ABBREVIATIONS

AOC,AllianceofCivilizations

ATT,ArmsTradeTreaty

CEB,ChiefExecutives´BoardforCoordination

CERF,CentralEmergencyResponseFund

CONUN,EuropeanUnionWorkingGroupfortheUnitedNations

CSTD,CommissiononScienceandTechnologyforDevelopment

DPA,DepartmentofPoliticalAffairs

DPKO,DepartmentofPeacekeepingOperations

ECOSOC,EconomicandSocialCouncil

FAO,FoodandAgricultureOrganisation

IAEA,InternationalAtomicEnergyAgency

IASC,InterAgencyStandingCommittee

ICC,InternationalCriminalCourt

ICJ,InternationalCourtofJustice

ILC,InternationalLawCommission

ICPD,InternationalConferenceonPopulationandDevelopment

IDP,InternallyDisplacedPersons

IGF,InternetGovernanceForum

ILO,InternationalLabourOrganisation

IMF,InternationalMonetaryFund

ITC,InternationalTradeCentre

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JPO,JuniorProfessionalOfficer

MDG,MillenniumDevelopmentGoals

MSU,MediationSupportUnit

NPT,TreatyontheNon-ProliferationofNuclearWeapons

OCHA,UNOfficefortheCoordinationofHumanitarianAffairs

ODA,OfficialDevelopmentAid

OECD,OrganisationforEconomicCo-operationandDevelopment

OHCHR,OfficeoftheHighCommissionerforHumanRights

PBC,PeacebuildingCommission

PBF,PeacebuildingFund

PBSO,PeacebuildingSupportOffice

R2P,RtoP,ResponsibilitytoProtect

SDG,SustainableDevelopmentGoals

SPM,SpecialPoliticalMission

SSR,SecuritySectorReform

UNWomen,UnitedNationsEntityforGenderEqualityandfortheEmpowermentofWomen

UNAIDS,UnitedNationsJointProgrammeonHIV/AIDS

UNCTAD,UnitedNationsConferenceonTradeandDevelopment

UNDESA,UnitedNationsDepartmentofEconomicandSocialAffairs

UNDG,UnitedNationsDevelopmentGroup

UNDP,UnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme

UNEP,UnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramme

UNESCO,UnitedNationsEducational,Scientificand CulturalOrganization

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UNFCCC,UnitedNationsFrameworkConventiononClimateChange

UNFPA,UnitedNationsPopulationFund

UN-Habitat,UnitedNationsHumanSettlementsProgramme

UNHCR,OfficeoftheUnitedNationsHighCommissionerforRefugees

UNICEF,UnitedNationsChildren’sFund

UNIDO,UnitedNationsIndustrialDevelopmentOrganization

UNIFIL,UnitedNationsInterimForceinLebanon

UNISDR,UnitedNationsInternationalStrategyforDisasterReduction

UNMAS,UnitedNationsMineActionService

UNODC,UnitedNationsOfficeforDrugsandCrime

UPR,UniversalPeriodicReview

UNPRPD,UnitedNationsPartnershiptoPromotetheRightsofPersonswithDisabilities

UNRWA,UnitedNationsReliefandWorksAgencyforPalestineRefugeesintheNearEast

UN-SWAP,UnitedNationsSystem-WideActionPlan

UNU,UnitedNationsUniversity

WFP,WorldFoodProgram

WHO,WorldHealthOrganisation

WSIS,WorldSummitontheInformationSociety

WTO,WorldTradeOrganisation

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PUBLICATIONS OF THE MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS

8 / 2013

ISSN 0358-1489ISBN 978-952-281-146-2

PDF ISBN 978-952-281-147-9e-pub 978-952-281-148-6

THE UN STRATEGY OF THE FINNISH FOREIGN SERVICE - United Nations Development … · 2019. 10. 4. ·...

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