Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja: New challenges in promoting human rights

Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja said today that from the point of view of promoting human rights and international justice these are challenging times: “The threat of international terrorism, as it has been conceived following September 11, the war in Iraq and certain developments related to globalisation have raised questions about the sufficiency and suitability of existing regulations.” The Foreign Minister was speaking at the annual celebration held at the University of Tampere, on Tuesday, 29 April.

“Another challenge concerns the efficaciousness of work carried out on human rights. Lately, the promotion of human rights has encountered a new type of resistance that is clearer and better organised than earlier. This was made clear at the recently concluded meeting of the UN Commission on Human Rights.”

Mr Tuomioja said that one of the central challenges facing the world is that of inequality. “The wealth produced by international trade creates possibilities for the better realisation of human rights, but this potential is not spread evenly. Especially, the situation of women and of different minorities – such as ethnic groups and disabled people – may become weaker.

”Finland stresses the importance of international cooperation and development in tackling problems of globalisation. For the fulfilment of human rights it is essential that governments themselves try to guarantee different rights as equally as possible for all their citizens.”

The Foreign Minister said that from a historical perspective there has been a positive change in Finland’s attitudes on human rights. “The conflicting views of the Eastern and Western blocs on human rights issues and their attempt to use them as pawns in superpower politics was reflected in Finland’s own human rights discourse. Government and the foreign policy leaders kept a low profile in this fraught situation. Of course, Finland was throughout a democratic country based on the principles of citizen freedoms and the constitutional state. But, at the same time, when it came to the supervision and implementation of human rights we lacked the support that could have been secured through the membership of the Council of Europe and commitment to the Strasbourg European Court of Human Rights. Neither were our actions exemplary with regard to refugees and asylum seekers.”

Mr Tuomioja said that the situation has now long been different. “Nowadays human rights are one of the main priorities in Finland’s foreign policy. Also, the programme of the new government emphasises the role of initiative and an active human rights work in its bilateral relations, in the EU and in international organisations. Finland’s active profile on human rights issues has been well established. It is a natural course for us that corresponds well with our country’s interests.”

Further information: Susanna Parkkonen, Press Attaché, tel: 040 545 1275