National Statement of Finland at the Fourth UN Counter-Terrorism Week Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly for the Ninth Review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy
Delivered by Permanent Representative of Finland to the UN, Ambassador Elina Kalkku on July 1, 2026, in New York.
Madame President, Excellencies,
International cooperation to fight terrorism is indispensable. The Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, adopted two decades ago and reviewed today, remains the only universal framework for preventing and countering terrorism. As a co-facilitator for the 9th review, I would like to once again thank all delegations who contributed to the adoption of the Strategy, and my co-facilitator Ambassador Hilale and the teams.
If implemented effectively, the Strategy will take us towards a future free from terrorism.
In the 9th review of the Strategy, the Member States once again committed to the fundamental four pillars of counter terrorism: addressing conditions conducive to terrorism; preventing and combatting terrorism; capacity-building and strengthening the role of the UN system in this regard; and respecting human rights and rule of law as the fundamental basis in counterterrorism. Member states have affirmed that counterterrorism measures must comply with international law.
Terrorism cannot be opposed solely by military means. For successful response, we need a whole-of-society approach, including a gender-sensitive approach. It is important to maintain a safe and enabling environment for civil society actors for their engagement. Finland values greatly the work of civil society, women and youth representatives, community leaders, religious leaders and schoolteachers in this respect.
Fighting terrorism must not serve as a pretext for human rights violations. Respect for fundamental freedoms and the rule of law are key elements for the legitimacy of our action. But we need to ensure accountability, and the perpetrators must be brought to justice for terrorist crimes.
Given the nature of terrorism, we also need to use robust counterterrorism measures. They must be in accordance with our international obligations, and we must avoid any negative impact of these measures on principled humanitarian action, and ensure compliance with our International Humanitarian Law obligations.
Finland is a strong proponent of multilateralism and rules-based international order. We have ratified all key international treaty instruments to combat terrorism and implemented the UN Security Council resolutions. Our commitment to the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy remains strong, and so does our commitment to the objectives of the Secretary General’s Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism.
Our National Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the National Action Plan on Preventing Violent Radicalization and Extremism are regularly reviewed by the Government. A common denominator in the implementation is profound cooperation among different stakeholders, and we apply the whole-of-society approach.
Overall, the terrorist situation in my country is strongly linked to international trends. According to our current national assessment, the most likely threat of a terrorist attack comes from lone operators and small groups advocating radical Islamist or violent far-right ideologies. Extreme left-wing rhetoric has sharpened internationally, and this has been observed in Finland, too.
In particular, I want to mention a very worrying phenomenon for several years now: the radicalization of minors, mainly taking place in the online environment. Interest in violence among young persons in vulnerable situations, may lead to severe acts of violence, even to terrorist attacks.
This only emphasizes the importance of preventive action. The promotion of inclusive, conflict-free and resilient societies, based on the rule of law and good governance, is vital for successful efforts. A society built on trust and reliable institutions, is always more stable. Furthermore, addressing the root causes of terrorism – such as the socio-economic inequalities, the lack of prospects for the youth, and the impacts of climate change – undermines in an effective manner the capabilities of terrorist groups to attract and recruit new supporters.
I thank you.