Finland

Present in Lucens.

2015: Attended the state consultations on the SSD in Geneva – led by Norway + 2015: Present at the First International Conference on the SSD in Oslo.

March 2017: Attended Buenos Aires Conference on Safe Schools. Provided feedback on framework – no comments.

September 2017 UNSC: September 2017 UNSC: GCPEA sent a letter to the ambassador in New York asking to raise the issue on attacks and military use, draw attention to the Declaration and the Guidelines during the Open Debate on children and armed conflict.

July 2018: Co-sponsored resolution 2427 (2018). During the SC open debate on children and armed conflict, Finland joined the statement of Canada on behalf of the GoF which mentioned the Safe Schools Declaration.

March 2019: Clustered Interactive Dialogue with the SRSG CAAC Virginia Gamba, HRC Geneva: joined Norway’s joint statement on the Safe Schools Declaration.

October 2021: cosponsored UNSRC2601.

September 2022: GCPEA met with the First Secretary in Humanitarian Affairs as well as the Advisor on Humanitarian Affairs and Disarmament from the Permanent Mission in Geneva. We spoke about implementation of the SSD (shared examples of good practices) and inquired about implementation in their national context. The First Secretary explained that SSD features in their IHL national committee discussions but he was not sure if Finland had taken any concrete steps. We encouraged them to follow up with their MoD to incorporate the Guidelines in their military doctrine.

November 2022: Endorsed the Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences Arising from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (EWIPA) on 18 November during an International Conference hosted by Ireland, the leader and penholder behind the Declaration.