General Debate on Item 6: Universal Periodic Review

Item 6: General Debate on the Universal Periodic Review at the 51st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, 30 September 2022. Statement by Finland, Delivered by Ambassador Kirsti Kauppi, Permanent Representative of Finland.

Mr President,

Finland reaffirms its strong support and commitment to the Universal Periodic Review process. Our own human rights situation will be reviewed in the upcoming 41. Session of the UPR in November. The Universal Periodic Review gives us the possibility for an interactive, apolitical peer assessment and a unique exchange with states and other stakeholders. It is a learning process, aimed at promoting human rights compliance through dialogue, and ultimately, improving the human rights situation in all countries.

In our view, the civil society should play a fundamental role in the UPR process. In Finland, civil society organizations have been key actors at all stages from preparations to implementation. Inclusiveness, transparency and participation of civil society organisations were central to the preparation of Finland’s fourth national report as well. Civil society organizations were also invited to comment on the content of the national report as well as the level of implementation of the recommendations of the previous cycle.

Human rights are at the core of Finnish policies. Despite our efforts in ensuring that everyone in Finland can enjoy their human rights in a full, equal and meaningful way, we recognize that we have not reached our goal yet. We look forward to our review and your recommendations for how Finland can further improve its human rights situation.

This Council has the duty to defend the universality of human rights against such developments. The UPR process is an integral part of this effort.

Thank you.