MFA: Minister for Foreign Affairs Haavisto to host a Freedom Online Conference at foreign ministerial level
The 10th anniversary of the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) will be celebrated at the end of Finland’s Chairship. On 3 December, Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will host a virtual Conference of foreign ministers representing 34 FOC member governments. The Freedom Online Coalition 10th Anniversary Helsinki Declaration for open and accessible internet and human rights-based digitalisation will be launched at the Conference.

The Freedom Online Coalition promotes the realisation of human rights on the internet. Over the past ten years, the need for this work has increased as the number of internet users has grown enormously. However, there is a wide gap in digital access, and hate speech, censorship and surveillance that restricts citizens’ privacy are increasing. Confrontation between democratic and authoritarian regimes and practices also affects the realisation of human rights on the internet. During Finland’s Chairship in 2021, the organisation has emphasised the importance of an open, accessible and inclusive internet as a means of promoting sustainable development and strengthening democracy around the world, especially in Africa.
“The realisation of human rights in information networks is an important part of the freedom of expression, the right of participation and privacy protection. The internet should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their background and gender. In the 2020s, the role of defenders of these values, such as the Freedom Online Coalition, is more significant than ever before,” Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto says.
The Ministerial Meeting, organised by Finland, will be attended by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Nordic ministers of foreign affairs, and foreign ministers from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe. The opening address will be delivered by former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who founded the FOC together with Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Uri Rosenthal.
Finland has been responsible for the preparation of the Freedom Online Coalition 10th Anniversary Helsinki Declaration, which is the FOC countries’ joint statement on the promotion of human rights-based digitalisation and an open and accessible internet, to be published at the Conference. At the meeting, Finland will hand over the FOC Chairship to Canada. Canada’s Chairship will begin on 1 January 2022.
Strengthening the human rights-based approach in the development of new technologies and in the promotion of digitalisation is strongly part of Finland’s foreign and security policy. It is also one of the priorities during Finland’s membership of the UN Human Rights Council, which will start in January 2022.
Follow the Ministerial Meeting on the website of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs or website of the FOC.
Inquiries:
Rauno Merisaari, Ambassador, Unit for Human Rights Policy, tel. + 358 295 350 974
Janette Sorsimo-Kimmo, Project Assistant, Unit for Human Rights Policy, tel. +358 29 535 0586
The Foreign Ministry’s email addresses are in the format firstname.lastname@formin.fi.
Keywords
Images
Links
About Ulkoministeriö / Utrikesministeriet

Laivastokatu 22, PL 176
00023 Valtioneuvosto
0295 16001http://um.fi
Subscribe to releases from Ulkoministeriö / Utrikesministeriet
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Ulkoministeriö / Utrikesministeriet by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Ulkoministeriö / Utrikesministeriet
New EU sanctions on Russia now in force21.7.2022 18:17:54 EEST | Press release
On 21 July 2022, the European Union imposed new sanctions on Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine. The new sanctions include a ban on imports of Russian gold. The new sanctions extend and specify previously imposed sanctions and include new provisions on their implementation.
Nya EU-sanktioner mot Ryssland träder i kraft21.7.2022 18:15:28 EEST | Tiedote
Europeiska unionen har den 21 juli 2022 infört nya sanktioner till följd av Rysslands anfallskrig mot Ukraina. De nya sanktionerna omfattar bland annat förbud mot import av ryskt guld. Sanktionerna som nu träder i kraft utvidgar och preciserar tidigare sanktioner och specificerar verkställigheten av dem.
Uusia EU:n Venäjään kohdistamia pakotteita on tullut voimaan21.7.2022 18:12:17 EEST | Tiedote
Euroopan unioni on asettanut 21. heinäkuuta 2022 uusia pakotteita Venäjän Ukrainaan kohdistuvan hyökkäyssodan takia. Uusiin pakotteisiin sisältyy muun muassa tuontikielto venäläiselle kullalle. Nyt voimaan tulevilla pakotteilla laajennetaan ja tarkennetaan pakotteita sekä täsmennetään niiden toimeenpanoa.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Haavisto visiting The Hague, Montana and Brussels14.7.2022 15:41:05 EEST | Press release
Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto visited The Hague on Wednesday and will next travel to Montana in the United States. On Monday, he will attend the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels.
Utrikesminister Haavisto på besök i Haag, Montana och Bryssel14.7.2022 15:34:11 EEST | Tiedote
Utrikesminister Pekka Haavisto besökte Haag på onsdagen och reser härnäst till Montana i Förenta staterna. På måndagen deltar han i Europeiska unionens utrikesråd i Bryssel.
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom