Finland, 2010

Let me start by

congratulating Ambassador Deiss on his election to the

presidency of the General Assembly. I assure him of

Finland’s full support for his leadership.

Climate issues and the recent financial, economic

and food crises call for change. The world needs an

understanding of global development that is

economically, socially and environmentally sustainable.

Both developing and developed countries wish for

economic growth. But the growth needs to be green,

equitable and inclusive. It must create jobs and

promote opportunities for decent work and a better life

for everyone.

Basic social protection is everyone’s right and an

important element of sustainable development. But the

most vulnerable need our special attention. We need to

do much more to combat discrimination and exclusion.

Current consumption and production patterns

need to be revised in many countries. In the words of

Mahatma Gandhi, there is enough in the world for

everyone’s need, but there cannot be enough for

everybody’s greed. Our stocktaking of the Millennium

Development Goals (MDGs) showed that there has

been progress but that it remains uneven. We agreed to

redouble our efforts. The MDGs must become part of

our everyday work, and we all need to deliver on our

commitments. The Millennium Development Goals are

reachable by the year 2015. What we want, we can

reach.

Our common work with the ecological welfare of

the world has continued. Promoting biodiversity is

vital for sustaining the ecosystems that our lives

depend on. Preventing the loss of biodiversity is of

great importance for climate change mitigation,

ensuring food and water security and eradicating

poverty. The high-level meeting as a contribution to the

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International Year of Biodiversity, confirming our

commitment to that goal, was a good step forward.

The impacts of climate change are more and more

visible and affect us all around the globe. Today I want

to focus on the special needs and vulnerabilities of

small island developing States and the implementation

of the Mauritius Strategy. Climate change is a hard

reality for them. Mitigating and adapting to its effects

is crucial for their survival.

Finland is committed to a new, ambitious climate

agreement. All of us must work hard to ensure a global

deal and commit to building a sustainable future, thus

responding to what the Secretary-General so

pertinently calls the 50-50-50 challenge. In order to

reach our goals, we must mobilize all available

resources. Cooperation to tackle climate change must

involve States, non-governmental organizations, the

private sector and all of our fellow global citizens.

Lasting solutions to global challenges cannot be

found without the active participation of women in

decision-making at all levels. Women are agents of

change and development. Investing in women and girls

has a vital effect on the eradication of poverty and

sustained economic growth. Having heard the

discussions this week, I am happy to conclude that

there has clearly been a breakthrough in this respect. I

could even call it mainstreaming. This is a good basis

to continue from. Women and men together can

achieve truly sustainable development.

The United Nations has to lead global efforts to

promote a new blueprint for sustainable growth and

low-carbon prosperity. I am honoured to co-chair the

Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on Global

Sustainability together with my colleague, President

Jacob Zuma of South Africa. We will, I promise, work

hard.

All human rights are equally important and must

be enjoyed by everyone without discrimination. The

protection and promotion of human rights must be an

integral part of peacebuilding and crisis management.

In combating impunity, justice must always go

hand in hand with peace efforts. Finland firmly

supports the International Criminal Court in its work in

bringing to justice those responsible for the most

serious crimes. We call on all States parties to the

Rome Statute to uphold their international legal

obligations under the Statute.

The Human Rights Council was created in 2006

to promote the respect for human rights, and its

functioning will now be reviewed. To achieve tangible

results, the Human Rights Council needs effective

tools. The independent thematic country-specific

mandates continue to be vital in order to achieve the

full implementation of human rights for all.

The commitment of all the United Nations

Member States to strengthen the promotion of women’s

rights, gender equality and gender mainstreaming is

welcome. Finland strongly supports the United Nations

Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of

Women (UN Women) and would like to congratulate

President Michelle Bachelet on her appointment. We

must ensure that UN Women becomes a strong

advocate and actor for women’s rights throughout the

work of the United Nations.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of Security

Council resolution 1325 (2000), on women and peace

and security. Concrete improvements have been made,

but we must step up our efforts to further turn the

objectives into practice. National action plans are

valuable tools for implementing the resolution. Finland

completed its own plan in 2008, and we have now

started a twinning initiative with Kenya.

We need a comprehensive approach which

integrates both long-term development programmes

and conflict resolution. In our common efforts to

prevent and resolve conflicts, the contribution of

regional organizations is valuable. Civil society can

also play a role. Finland supports the development of

the peace mediation activities of the United Nations.

After several rounds of proximity talks in the

Middle East, the parties started direct talks in

September. The international community has welcomed

this wise decision. We now stand ready to give our

support whenever needed.

Finland is greatly encouraged by the New START

agreement and by the outcomes of the Nuclear Security

Summit, held in Washington, and the Review

Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-

Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. The world

community must seize the moment. Global and

bilateral efforts must be continued towards a world

without nuclear weapons.

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The United Nations remains the only forum

where we can solve our common problems together.

Therefore, we must continue to reform our

Organization and increase its effectiveness without

forgetting our own responsibilities as Member States.

This is absolutely necessary, because we need to tackle

the food crisis, the financial crisis, various kinds of

natural disasters, contagious diseases, terrorism and

armed conflicts in different parts of the world, as well

as meeting our common challenge of climate change.

Combating everyday crises and working, at the

same time, for sustainable development is a huge task.

But no other choice has been given to us. That is why

we have to combine our efforts for a better world —

and do it now.