Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja: The role and financing mechanisms of civil society organisations in peace mediation must be strengthened
Press Release 249/2011
1 October 2011
Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja took part in the Security Policy Academy organised by KATU, the Civil Society Conflict Prevention Network, in Helsinki on 1 October. He stressed in his speech that areas of conflict must in future be examined more closely through a state-building lens. “Work should focus on state-building even before latent conflicts hidden beneath the surface flare up. In crisis areas, strong civilian crisis management, development cooperation, confidence-building measures and grassroots participation are needed alongside military action. The role of civil society organisations should not be underestimated in this work. They are often present even before aggravation of the conflict, and they continue their work after crisis management actors proper have left.”
Finnish civil society organisations and research institutes in the field of peace and security are well networked and active players with peace mediation expertise to offer. Finland is preparing an action plan on peace mediation; many quarters of civil society have shown interest in its compilation and have contributed added value to its content. This trend, in Tuomioja’s view, should be strengthened further.
Close Nordic cooperation is also a natural reference group in peace mediation. Tuomioja suggested the establishment of a Nordic peace mediation network during the Nordic Ministers’ Meeting held last week in conjunction with the UN General Assembly’s opening week. Representatives of State administration, civil society organisations and research institutes active in peace mediation would participate in the network.
The Government Programme also mentions the establishment of so-called stabilisation funds. The role of peace mediation in a potential stabilisation instrument has recently been stressed. In Tuomioja’s opinion, however, the perspective should be wider than this. A key challenge is to ensure that Finland has both official development assistance (ODA) and non-ODA funds already designated which can be used as necessary to react quickly and flexibly to needs emerging in target countries. Acting in such situations requires a higher than normal risk tolerance. When successful, however, the effectiveness of activities may be considerable.
According to Tuomioja, it could be a question of, for example, short-term measures to build confidence at the grassroots level, or a rapid response to a situation where subsequent management could be dealt with normally within the sphere of development cooperation or other financing sources. A flexible financing mechanism would be of particular benefit in providing support for multidimensional projects.
“With globalisation, the interdependence between geopolitical regions, states and societies, as well as between people, has increased. Problems such as the economic crisis, famine, climate change, population growth and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction indicate the need for stronger global governance and shouldering of responsibility. The key is in restoration of confidence and in legitimate institutions capable of providing citizens with security, justice and jobs,” said Tuomioja.
Additional information: Susanna Parkkonen, Press Attaché to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, mobile tel. +358 50 377 5601