Press releases, 11.12.2023

Geneva to host Global Refugee Forum and 75th anniversary celebrations of UN Declaration of Human Rights

The 75th anniversary of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights will be celebrated on 11–12 December in Geneva, Switzerland. The Global Refugee Forum will be held in Geneva on 13–15 December. State Secretary Lauri Tierala will represent Finland at both events.

In honour of the 75th anniversary, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has requested tangible human rights pledges from the Member States. The pledges will be announced in Geneva on 11 December.

Finland pledges to monitor more closely the implementation of human rights commitments. The Government will annually discuss the decisions, conclusions and recommendations issued to Finland by international human rights monitoring bodies and decide on measures to be taken. Finland will also introduce a databank that brings together the recommendations Finland has received from international monitoring bodies (the UN and the Council of Europe).

Finland will introduce fundamental and human rights indicators over this Government’s term and prepare the fourth national Action Plan on Fundamental and Human Rights. In addition, Finland will promote dialogue with civil society and opportunities for civil society participation.

The UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted at the UN General Assembly 75 years ago on 10 December 1948. The Declaration sets a minimum standard for the obligation of states to respect, to protect and to fulfil human rights. It is one of the most influential and translated documents in history and the basis for numerous human rights treaties, including the key international human rights treaties.

The Global Refugee Forum will be held on 13–15 December for the second time. Held every four years, the Forum is a follow-up to the Global Compact on Refugees affirmed by the UN General Assembly in December 2018.

The Forum aims to assess the current situation and strengthen international action at a time when millions of people are affected by wars, conflicts, persecution and natural disasters and the number of refugees has reached a record level. The Forum brings together governments, international organisations, local authorities, civil society, the private sector and host communities as well as refugees themselves.

State Secretary Lauri Tierala will visit Geneva on 12–13 December and attend both events. He will have bilateral meetings with Nada al Nashif, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, and with Kelly T. Clements, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees at UNHCR. State Secretary Tierala will also have several meetings with representatives of other states and organisations, for example with the International Committee of the Red Cross and representatives of the management of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

The topics to be discussed in Geneva will include Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which Finland condemns in the strongest terms, and the current situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Many prolonged crises are also on the agenda.

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Inquiries

  • Suvi Tuominen, Desk Officer, Unit for Human Rights Policy, tel. +358 295 350 735
  • Katariina Tervakangas, Desk Officer, Unit for Humanitarian Assistance and Policy, tel. +358 295 350 954
  • The email addresses of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs are in the format [email protected].