Finland’s state leadership attend UN General Assembly’s high-level week 2020
Global response to address global problems: We need the 75-year-old UN now more than ever. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most events of this year’s high-level week and the 75th anniversary session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) will be held virtually. The events of the high-level week will spread over a two-week period from 21 September to 2 October.
You will find links to UNGA presentations, direct webcasts, video recordings and news in this article.
A High-level Meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations will open the UNGA high-level week on Monday 21 September. The general debate will begin on Tuesday 22 September. Speakers at the opening session will include, among others, UN Secretary-General and the Presidents of the United States, Russia and China. More than 170 heads of state will speak in the general debate, assessing the state of the world. Despite the fact that this year's General Assembly is held virtually, a record number of heads of state will take part in the meeting.
Finland’s delegation will be led by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö, who will deliver Finland’s virtual address at the general debate on Wednesday 23 September. Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto and Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari will speak at events held during the high-level week.
Several public addresses, delivered during the week, will be webcast live on the UN Web TV Channel.(Link to another website.) We will update the links to the video recordings of speeches as soon as they are available.
On Twitter, you can follow the General Assembly using #UNGA75 and #UNGA. The official hashtag of the 75th anniversary of the UN is #UN75.
The UN General Assembly is the only of the six main bodies of the organisation where all Member States have equal representation: one country, one vote. This year, the theme of the general debate will be commitment to multilateral cooperation and effective global response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more about the General Assembly on the official website of the General Assembly of the United Nations (in English).(Link to another website.)
Finland’s central priorities in its UN policy include defending the rules-based international system and strengthening the multilateral system; sustainable development and climate change; prevention of conflicts and mediation; and the promotion of human rights, the rule of law, democracy, peace, freedom, tolerance and equality in all international activities.
Presentations of members of the Finnish delegation at the 75th anniversary session of the United Nations General Assembly:
- Thursday 17 September: Annual Ministerial Meeting of LDCs, Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari
- Friday 18 September: SDG Moment meeting, President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö
- Monday 21 September: High-level Meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö
- Wednesday 23 September: Finland's statement in the general debate, President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö
- Wednesday 23 September: Annual meeting of the Informal Ministerial Network for the International Criminal Court, Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto
- Friday 25 September: Alliance for Multilateralism – Ministerial Meeting, Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto
- Monday 28 September: Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB), Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari
- Monday 28 September: Leaders Event for Nature and People Meeting, Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto
- Wednesday 30 September: Summit on Biodiversity, Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto
- Thursday 1 October: High-level meeting on the 25th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing + 25), President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö
- Monday 5 October: Protecting Human Rights During the COVID-19 Crisis and Beyond: Digital Pandemic Surveillance and the Right to Privacy, Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari
Live webcasts and video recordings of the speeches:
Thursday 17 September: Annual Ministerial Meeting of LDCs, Minister Ville Skinnari’s speech
Friday 18 September: SDG Moment meeting, President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö(Link to another website.)'s statement
Monday 21 September: High-level Meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, President Sauli Niinistö’s Statement(Link to another website.)
Wednesday 23 September: Finland's statement in the general debate by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö(Link to another website.)
Monday 28 September: Leaders Event for Nature and People event, Minister Pekka Haavisto's speech
Monday 28 September: Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB) event, Minister Ville Skinnari's speech
Wednesday 30 Semtember: Biodiversity Summit, Minister Pekka Haavisto's speech
Thursday 1 October: High-level meeting on the 25th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing + 25), President Sauli Niinistö's speech (Link to another website.)
Monday 5 October: Protecting Human Rights During the COVID-19 Crisis and Beyond: Digital Pandemic Surveillance and the Right to Privacy, Minister Ville Skinnari's speech (8min 35 sec)(Link to another website.)
Speeches:
17 September: Minister Skinnari’s speech at the Annual Ministerial Meeting of LDCs
18 September: President Sauli Niinistö’s Statement at SDG Moment Meeting(Link to another website.)
28 September: Minister Skinnari's speech at the Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB) event
30 September: Minister Haavisto's speech at the UN Biodiversity Summit
Press releases and news:
More information:
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)