68th session of UN Commission on the Status of Women to focus on accelerating achievement of gender equality by addressing poverty
The 68th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) will take place in New York between 11 and 22 March 2024. Finland will be represented at the session by a broad-based delegation headed by Minister Sanni Grahn-Laasonen, who is responsible for gender equality issues.
The priority theme of the 68th session is ‘Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective’. Minister Grahn-Laasonen will deliver Finland’s address at the session and participate in high-level roundtable discussions.
At the session, Finland will emphasise women’s political and economic participation and the elimination of violence and discrimination against women and girls, as well as sexual and reproductive health and rights. Particular attention will be paid to the education of girls and women. Gender mainstreaming and gender budgeting will also be among Finland’s priorities.
“Gender inequality weakens the development and economy of societies. Women’s participation in working life is therefore of paramount importance for both the development and economy of societies,” Minister Grahn-Laasonen says.
Education and related choices play an important role in promoting gender equality in the labour market. “Gender segregation starts early in childhood and in education and training. The culture and stereotypes in our society shape educational choices. We must deliberately dismantle damaging preconceptions that affect what women and girls can or cannot do. Schools and educational institutions play an essential role in this,” says Grahn-Laasonen.
Women’s economic empowerment plays a key role in achieving gender equality in all other areas of life, too. In Finland’s address, Minister Grahn-Laasonen will emphasise, among other things, women’s right to have control over their own bodies. Girls’ opportunities for education and the realisation of sexual and reproductive health and rights are important in enabling women to participate in their societies and economies.
The CSW sessions also include a review theme. This year, the review theme will be ‘Social protection systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls’ in accordance with the agreed conclusions adopted by the Commission in 2019.
Background
The Commission on the Status of Women, which operates under the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), monitors and supports the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in different thematic areas. It is the UN's second largest annual meeting after the General Assembly.
The Commission on the Status of Women is an important international forum for Finland to promote a human rights-based approach and the realisation of the rights of women and girls, including sexual and reproductive health and rights. During the negotiations and side events and in its other advocacy work, Finland will promote a comprehensive approach to the participation of women and girls.
The Finnish delegation is appointed annually and led by the minister responsible for gender equality issues. This year, the delegation consists of representatives from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, the Council for Gender Equality, the Finnish Parliament and non-governmental organisations, for example.
Inquiries:
Laura Rissanen, State Secretary (Riikka Mononen, Secretary to the State Secretary, tel. +358 295 163 531, firstname.lastname@gov.fi)
Hanna Onwen-Huma, Senior Specialist, Gender Equality Unit, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, tel. +358 295 163 233, firstname.lastname@gov.fi
Satu Leino, Ministerial Adviser, International Affairs Unit, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, tel. +358 295 163 498, firstname.lastname@gov.fi