MFA: Technology and equality addressed in the Generation Equality forum on 29–31 March – Finland holds an international lead role

Coordinated by UN Women, the objective of the Generation Equality campaign is to accelerate the attainment of gender equality objectives worldwide. Last year, Finland was appointed to lead the Action Coalition that focuses on gender equality in the field of technology and innovations. The coalition will publish its concrete action blueprint in connection with the virtual forum held in Mexico.

The priorities put forward by Finland are strongly present in the action blueprint. The requirement for the elimination of gender-based online violence and creation of safe online environments for all is one of the main objectives of the global action plan.

The blueprint will be published in a high-level panel discussion, attended by Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari as Finland's representative. Prime Minister Sanna Marin will speak in the session discussing women’s leadership. Additionally, Johanna Sumuvuori, State Secretary of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, will attend the event to set up a group of friends of gender equality.

"Online violence and harassment are human rights violations and, as such, as reprehensible as any forms of violence taking place offline. Online harassment that targets women, girls and minorities in particular is also a real threat to democracy, as it restricts and hinders participation in social debate. We need global regulation, commitments and actions to eliminate online violence. Succeeding in this requires seamless cooperation between governments, companies and NGOs, to which the Generation Equality campaign offers an excellent opportunity," says Minister Skinnari.

The action blueprints of five other Generation Equality Action Coalitions will also be published during the three-day event. The coalitions seek solutions to address issues related to gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive health and rights, economic justice, climate change and women's leadership.

The action blueprints will be implemented during the next five years in collaboration with governments, companies, organisations and youth movements.

The preparatory phase for the Generation Equality campaign will continue for the rest of the spring and culminate in the high-level forum arranged in Paris from 30 June to 2 July 2021.

For more information, please contact:

Tanja Leikas-Bottà, Counsellor, tel. +358 50 4087110. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ email addresses are in the format firstname.lastname@formin.fi.