Position Paper for the General Assembly Third Committee

The issues before the General Assembly Third Committee are: Social development of At-Risk Populations, The Impact of Globalization on the Right to Develop, and Human Rights and Existing forms of Punishment.  The Republic of Finland has always been very concerned about human rights.  Finland believes in basic rights for all human beings without discrimination of any kind as to race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status as stated in Article 2 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights and Article 2 of the Declaration of Human Rights.  As Finland promises to be a tireless promoter of human rights, we urge all member states to protect and ensure their citizens' rights.  The Republic of Finland will address the issues before it with the utmost importance and looks forward to tackling these issues head on.

I.     Social Development of At-Risk Populations

The Republic of Finland believes in Social Development for all, including women, minorities, individuals with special needs, and vulnerable generations.  These groups of people form the core of at-risk populations.  Finland is committed to help advance development for at-risk populations.  The Beijing Conference held in 1999 was a huge stepping-stone for women's rights.  It called on all governments to allow equal political rights, equal development, and peace for women everywhere.  Minorities have been persecuted throughout history.  The Republic of Finland believes that now is the time to stop the abuse and neglect minorities face in different areas of the world today.  Article 26 of The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights states all persons are equal under the law and are entitled without any discrimination to the equal protection of the law.  The Republic of Finland believes the United Nations needs to monitor areas of the world where these rights do not exist. 

Finland is very concerned over the present situation regarding individuals with special needs.  Currently in the world today there are over 600 million individuals with special needs.  These people are often negated the chance to participate in politics, denied the right of education, and are stricken to live in poverty.  The Republic of Finland urges all member states to address their individuals with special needs needs' and to find a way to lessen the burden they face. Children have also felt the brunt unequal social development: today children are victims of war (hundreds are recruited as soldiers in The Democratic Republic of Congo daily), children are being bought and sold on the black market (primarily for sexual exploitation), and children are being forced to start working hard labor at early ages.  If a child is manipulated in this way then they are being deprived of basic human rights:  Rights that are spelled out in the Convention on the Rights of Child (CRC).  The preamble of the CRC states that a child should have the full and harmonious development of his or her personality, should grow up in a family environment, in an atmosphere of happiness, love, and understanding. 

At the other end of the spectrum, people of old age are also facing discrimination of their social and basic needs.  U.N. Principles for Older Persons has five criteria, which need to be met, by member states to ensure social development for the aging: independence, participation, care, self-fulfillment, and dignity.  The Republic of Finland is devoted to helping at-risk populations worldwide.  Finland looks forward to working in conjunction with regional agencies, NGO's, and international cooperatives to find ways to combat the problem of social development of at-risk populations. 

II.    The Impact of Globalization on the Right to Develop

The Republic of Finland believes firmly in the right to development as an inalienable human right and fully supports the Declaration on the Right to Development.  It is necessary that the international community enforce this declaration to the fullest extent to further the position of economic, social, cultural, civic and political rights of the citizens of developing countries.  The impact of globalization has had many positive effects in the northern hemisphere but has left those in the south underdeveloped and in want of the most basic human rights.  The people of Finland affirm the right to develop as a right of an individual and a group.  The prior aid given to these countries, such as loans from the IMF and World Bank, has proven ineffective in developing these countries.  Therefore, we must decrease their debts and increase assistance based on individuals and their needs.  Finland also strongly encourages the international community to enforce Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which affirms the right to an adequate standard of living.  This is necessary to the betterment of the peoples so that they may all benefit from the fruits of globalization.  The Republic also would like to endorse the Secretary-General’s report “We the Peoples” and his ideas on spreading the benefits of globalization.

III.    Human Rights and the Existing Forms of Punishments

The Republic of Finland is firmly committed to the right to life as stated in The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) as well as in the UN charter.  We condemn the use of the death penalty in all cases and note with deep concern the number of states that continue to use the death penalty as a form of punishment.   Furthermore, we are deeply disturbed by states that execute children under 18, pregnant women and the mentally handicapped.  Finland, with the European Union, urges the implementation of a moratorium on the application of the death penalty.   Finland further deplores the use of torture of prisoners reaffirming Article 5 of the UDHR.  Finland also refuses to take part in development of countries, such as Turkey joining the European Union, if they do not meet Human right demands including stopping the torture of prisoners and other members of society.  

The Republic of Finland emphasizes that persons must be made aware of their rights as well as the channels to realize them, as discussed in the Vienna Declaration, in order for the UDHR and other human rights documents to be implemented more effectively.  We reaffirm the need for better monitoring and implementation of human rights law by the UN and states.

Recalling the effects of globalization that continue to polarize the world, the necessity of the UN and the international community to protect the rights of at risk peoples increases.  It is in this manner that Finland encourages multilateral efforts in the implementation of human rights.  We further reaffirm the provisions under the UDHR that entitles everyone to a social and economic order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in that declaration can be realized.

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