Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and City of Vantaa
Nordic gender equality ministers and experts to meet in Vantaa
Gender Equality Days is the main annual event in the field of gender equality in Finland, and this year it will be organised as part of the programme for Finland’s Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers. The event will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted at the UN World Conference on Women in 1995.
“There is a dark shadow hanging over the anniversary year as gender equality, the rights of women and girls and the rights of LGBTIQ people are facing serious threats from multiple directions,” says Finnish Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen, who is also responsible for gender equality issues.
“It is important for the Nordic countries to identify these threats and form a shared picture of the situation. Just as important is recognising where we have succeeded and what those strong structures and best practices are that help us move forward” says Minister Grahn-Laasonen.
The first day of Gender Equality Days features the Nordic gender equality ministers sharing their visions for future successes and experts talking about effective gender equality work in the Nordic countries.
The event will also offer fresh perspectives on today’s gender equality challenges. The second day highlights the importance of mainstreaming gender into safety work, which is an area of expertise in the City of Vantaa, one of the partners of the event.
“Gender Equality Days serves as a reminder of how gender affects the sense of safety and security – who feels protected, heard and supported in our society. During this event, we will discuss gender-based violence and the growing threat of digital hate and disinformation,” says Mayor of Vantaa Pekka Timonen.
“The second day will bring together leading experts who offer both critical perspectives and future-oriented solutions. It will also show how cities, such as Vantaa, can set an example in committing to gender equality and non-discrimination,” says Timonen.
The 11th annual Gender Equality Days event, to be held in Vantaa on 8–9 October, will bring together over 200 gender equality actors from across the Nordic countries. The themes of the two days are Nordic success stories and safety and gender. The event will be organised in cooperation with the Nordic Council of Ministers, the City of Vantaa, Nordic Information on Gender (NIKK) and a network of Finnish equality actors.
Inquiries:
Laura Rissanen, State secretary, tel. +358 29 516 3632
Anni Hyvärinen, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, tel. +358 29 516 3483 (Gender Equality Days, 8 October)
Lotta Alajoki, Sustainability Specialist, City of Vantaa, tel. +358 43 827 2239 (Gender Equality Days, 9 October)