MFA: Executive Director of United Nations Population Fund Natalia Kanem to visit Finland

Executive Director of UNFPA Natalia Kanem will visit Finland on 2–3 December and have a meeting with Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari.  Skinnari and Kanem will discuss ways to achieve UNFPA’s objectives concerning ways of preventing unplanned pregnancies, ending maternal mortality and putting an end to gender-based violence and such harmful practices as female genital mutilation (FGM) and child, early  and forced marriages, by 2030.

“Unfortunately, violence against women and girls has continued to increase all over the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. The position of women and girls can be improved through new technologies, and Finland has a lot to offer in this area to UNFPA’s gender equality work,” says Minister Skinnari.

A key priority in Finland’s development policy and development cooperation is to strengthen the status and rights of women and girls, with an emphasis on sexual and reproductive health and rights. Of the UN specialised agencies supported by Finland, UNFPA is the largest recipient of core funding. In 2021, Finland’s core funding amounts to EUR 33 million. Additionally, funding is directed to certain country strategies, including in Myanmar, Somalia and Iraq, and to UNFPA’s humanitarian activities.  

Director General Kanem will also meet President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö and visit Parliament where she will meet Members of Parliament and representatives of the Friends of UN network.

Inquiries: 

Eija Limnell, Counsellor, tel. +358 50 576 8985
Mikko Autti, Diplomatic Adviser to the Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, tel. +358 295 350 034
The Foreign Ministry’s email addresses are in the format firstname.lastname@formin.fi