Finland to focus on women, LGBTI rights in UNHRC

The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is holding its 50th regular session from Monday to 8 July and as a member, Finland promotes gender equality and the rights of women, said Ministry for Foreign Affairs in a press release.

This is the second session during Finland’s three-year membership in the Human Rights Council, UN’s most important intergovernmental body protecting and promoting human rights and Finland prioritises the realisation of the rights of persons and groups in vulnerable situation.

The UNHRC summer session will have a strong focus on the rights of women and girls and on gender equality.

Finland will be actively involved in the negotiations on these matters. It will highlight the importance of preventing violence and discrimination against women and of promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights. The diversity of women and girls must be recognised.

Finland will organise an event on preventing gender-based online violence. It is part of the international Generation Equality campaign that promotes the rights of women and girls globally. The event aims to bring together different actors for finding solutions to prevent violence.

The Human Rights Council is to renew the mandate of the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Finland will advocate for the renewal of this important mandate. The UN must act strongly to prevent violence and discrimination in all situations.

UNHRC will be discussing many other important questions, such as the freedom of expression and opinion and assembly, climate change, and business and human rights. Another topic likely to come up in many discussions is food security.