Current affairs
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5.10.2026
HRC63 General debate on Technical assistance and capacity-building
63rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council Item 10: General Debate on Technical assistance and capacity-building. National Statement delivered by H.E. Ambassador Heidi Schroderus-Fox, Permanent Representative of Finland on Monday 5 October 2026.
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2.10.2026
HRC63 Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia
63rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council: Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia. Statement by Nordic-Baltic States, delivered by Ambassador Heidi Schroderus-Fox, Permanent Representative of Finland on 2 October 2026.
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1.10.2026
HRC63 Interactive Dialogue on the OHCHR report on technical assistance to Somalia
63rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council Item 10: Interactive Dialogue on the OHCHR report on technical assistance to Somalia. Statement by Nordic-Baltic States, delivered by Ambassador Heidi Schroderus-Fox, Permanent Representative of Finland on 1 October 2026.
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22.9.2026
HRC63 General debate on human rights situations that require the Council’s attention
63rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council Item 4: General debate on human rights situations that require the Council’s attention. National statement delivered by Councellor Anna-Mari Wong Hämäläinen, Deputy Permanent Representative of Finland on Tuesday 22 September 2026.
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16.9.2026
Ministers Valtonen and Tavio to attend high-level week of UN General Assembly in New York
The high-level meetings of the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 81) will begin in New York on 21 September. Finland’s delegation will be led by President of the Republic Alexander Stubb, who will deliver Finland’s statement at the general debate on 22 September. The delegation’s vice-chairs are Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen and Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio.
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15.9.2026
HRC63 High-level panel discussion on the 15th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training
63rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council High-level panel discussion on the 15th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training: good practices, challenges and the way forward. Statement by Nordic-Baltic States, delivered by Ambassador Heidi Schroderus-Fox, Permanent Representative of Finland on 15 September 2026.
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14.9.2026
HRC63 Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation
63rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 3: Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation. Statement by Nordic-Baltic States, delivered by Ambassador Heidi Schroderus-Fox, Permanent Representative of Finland on 14 September 2026.
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11.9.2026
WTO Public Forum 2026 highlights the role of services as a driver of world trade
The WTO Public Forum, held in Geneva on 15–17 September, brings together more than 2,000 experts to discuss the role of international trade in promoting sustainable growth and prosperity. In the forum, Finland is organising a side event on the importance of services for sustainable mining, together with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) partnership programme.
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8.9.2026
HRC63 General debate on the oral update of the High Commissioner
63rd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council Item 2: General debate on the oral update of the High Commissioner. National statement delivered by Councellor Anna-Mari Wong Hämäläinen, Deputy Permanent Representative of Finland on Tuesday 8 September 2026.
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31.8.2026
Young peacebuilders from around the world to gather in Helsinki to deepen their expertise
Finland and South Africa launched their joint mentoring programme for young mediators in Pretoria, South Africa, in July 2025. Fifteen young people from across the world are participating in the one-year programme to deepen their expertise in mediation. This week, they are meeting in Helsinki for the fourth, and final, in-person phase of the programme.