GREETING BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC

The Nordic Forum was held in Turku ten years ago. It was wonderful to see how many non-governmental organisations and private citizens attended the forum. Now it is time to evaluate how the themes from ten years ago have progressed.

The 10th Anniversary Seminar of the Nordic Forum will cover important subjects, such as global promotion of democracy, justice, human rights and equality. The theme of the seminar “Equal Opportunities – for WoMen” campaigns for equal opportunities for everyone. The seminar will review the themes through working life, social influencing, as well as private and family life. In addition, women trafficking as well as violence towards women and its consequences receive a great deal of attention.

Gender equality in Finland, as in other Nordic countries, is good when looked at from an international viewpoint, although there remains room for reforms. To achieve global equality we need to combine our strength. The advantages and disadvantages of globalisation are neither equally distributed between nor within countries. Especially women have a lot to gain from a fair globalisation that would promote well-being and employment and reduce poverty.

The UN aims at promoting equality between women and men and at empowering women in society, which is a good way to create sustainable development. When women and men have equal opportunities at work, as well as in education and decision-making, there is twice as much potential and resources available. This is what makes the promotion of equality also promotion of human rights and development.

The UN has drawn attention to women’s empowerment especially in the conference in Beijing in 1995, and after that to monitoring women’s status. The 10th Anniversary Seminar of the Nordic Forum is a part of this continuum. I wish you all a very interesting and thought-provoking seminar!

Tarja Halonen
President of the Republic