Finland chairs the UN Commission for Social Development
Finland chairs and is a member state of the United Nations’ Commission for Social Development at its 47th session. The Finnish Minister of Health and Social Services, Paula Risikko, attends the Commission’s session on 4 to 6 February.
Minister Risikko delivers Finland’s address at the session on 4 February. She deals with social cohesion and underlines that the global financial crisis mostly affects the people who already are in a vulnerable position. In her speech Minister Risikko raises the need to strengthen participation and inclusion in society in eradicating poverty and social exclusion.
She also deals with the Finnish social and health care system and looks at the measures to improve the position of minorities in Finland.
Finland’s objective is that the session should have a far-ranging discussion on social policy. Finland aims to present our comprehensive social policy and our model of a welfare society.
The most important actions of the Commission for Social Development include combating social exclusion and poverty. The discussions aim to further social justice, social coherence andsolidarity between member states.
The Commission for Social Development is chaired by Ambassador Kirsi Lintonen. The session of the Commission is held in New York on 4 to 13 February. The Commission discusses social issues, poverty, participation and inclusion from a wide range of perspectives. UN is the only organ at which the world’s governments are represented and international discussion and policies can be promoted jointly.
For further information contact:
Ritva Vuorento, Senior Officer, tel. + 358 50 3545 915
Anna Manner-Raappana, Special Adiviser, tel. +358 40 575 6618