Let me begin by
congratulating you, Sir, on your election as President
of the General Assembly. I assure you of our full
support in your important functions.
As many colleagues have already underlined, the
international climate negotiations are at a crucial stage.
The Copenhagen Conference is a real possibility for
change. We need political determination and solidarity
to reach a new climate agreement that is global,
effective and fair. The responsibility lies with all of
us — industrial countries, emerging economies and
developing countries alike — to take the decisions that
will so profoundly shape the future of humankind.
I thank the Secretary-General for convening the
Summit on Climate Change at the beginning of the
current session of the General Assembly. We had a
good discussion on issues that still need to be
addressed before December. The meeting delivered a
clear message that we are committed to working hard
to seal the deal.
A global climate agreement is a precondition for
comprehensive sustainable development. The poorest
are the most vulnerable when struggling with the
adverse effects of climate change. The new agreement
must include elements of solidarity and international
support in coping with the needs of adaptation. Climate
change will affect especially seriously the lives and
livelihoods of women, but women are also powerful
actors in combating it. We need to ensure their full
participation in the negotiations and in the
implementation of the new agreement.
Gender, food production and climate change are
all interlinked. We know that 70 per cent of the world’s
poor are women and girls. We also know that the
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majority of agricultural labourers are women. If we
really want to combat climate change and avoid a
global food crisis, we need to pay close attention to the
role of women, especially in least developed countries.
While the negative consequences of climate
change are universal, their impact on small island
developing States and countries with low-lying coastal
areas is particularly grave. Those countries are
threatened by the rise of sea levels and by extreme
weather conditions. They need particular attention and
assistance.
In September 2000, we committed ourselves here
to a new global partnership to reduce extreme poverty
and to reach the Millennium Development Goals. We
reiterated that pledge at the 2005 World Summit. Now,
in 2009, we have to demonstrate our resolve to live up
to that commitment when faced with a contracting
world economy as well.
The solution of the current financial and
economic crisis should be based on the concept of fair
globalization. Our action, while striving to achieve
sustainable economic growth, must address the goal of
decent work for all. It is really essential that we honour
our commitments to development in spite of our budget
constraints.
In the world economy, the tectonic plates are in
motion and new actors are emerging. We need to
develop a new global consensus on business ethics,
integrity and sustainable economic growth. We must
work together so that trust in international financial
institutions can be re-established. Let us make them
more transparent, accountable and sustainable.
I sincerely hope that the Pittsburgh summit of the
Group of 20 will agree on further measures for global
recovery. But we should also make full use of the
United Nations to promote inclusive and equitable
cooperation on issues that are truly global.
While climate change and the global economic
downturn cause problems in many parts of the world,
Africa is the continent that suffers the most. The
international community must remain attentive to
Africa’s needs. I am glad to note that positive
developments have also taken place in Africa. During
this decade, the number of conflicts in Africa has
decreased. The African Union is committed to
strengthening the organization’s capacity in conflict
prevention. Finland is contributing to that important
effort by supporting the build-up of the peace
mediation structures of the African Union.
The latest developments in the Middle East peace
process provide a reason for cautious optimism. It
seems that the parties are willing to take some steps.
Countries outside the region are committed to
supporting those efforts. It is my belief that, with that
broadening consensus, we can reactivate the peace
process soon.
Finland values highly the United Nations Charter
and the central role given to the Security Council. We
actively participate in efforts to make that body more
representative and efficient. Finland is a candidate to
become a non-permanent member of the Security
Council for the period 2013 to 2014. At the same time,
we hope that progress on the Council’s reform can be
made during this session of the General Assembly.
Security Council resolutions 1325 (2000) and
1820 (2008) on women, peace and security were
important achievements. Their implementation in all
countries and in all situations is urgently needed. The
international colloquium on women’s empowerment,
leadership development and international peace and
security, which was held last March in Monrovia,
adopted a call to action on resolution 1325 (2000) and
a call for action on gender and climate change. As a
follow-up to the colloquium, Finland and Liberia
convened a side event today here at the United
Nations. In a word, it was a success. I hope that the
next success will be in Copenhagen, and that women
will make a contribution to it.
Security Council resolution 1820 (2008) strongly
condemns sexual violence in conflicts. We must treat
systematic rape as a forbidden weapon of war. Victims
of rape and sexual abuse must have access to legal
processes, and rapists must be prosecuted and
condemned. In our view, the appointment of a special
representative of the Secretary-General on women and
armed conflict would enhance the implementation of
those resolutions. We hope that all Member States will
support that proposal. I want to thank Secretary-
General Ban Ki-moon for bringing up the question of
violence against women in his opening address to the
General Assembly yesterday.
Civilian populations need protection in conflict
situations. At the United Nations World Summit in
2005, the responsibility to protect was accepted as a
general principle applicable to genocide, crimes against
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humanity, ethnic cleansing and war crimes. Further
efforts are urgently needed to save civilians from
violence.
This morning, the Security Council held a debate
on nuclear security issues. I am sure that we are all
pleased that disarmament is now strongly returning to
the international agenda. I sincerely hope that that will
lead to real progress.
Finally, I would like to underline that we have to
try to find things that unite us — and not things that
divide us — if we want to be midwives of the future
and not guardians of the past. Lasting peace can be
built only through open dialogue between cultural and
religious communities, in our countries and worldwide.
Finland supports all initiatives, such as the Alliance of
Civilizations, to stimulate intercultural communication.
I wish those efforts the best of success in promoting
mutual understanding and peace. I promise that Finland
will support them.