Translating the Women, Peace and Security Agenda Into Action 

Finland advances the Women, Peace and Security agenda through concrete action – by promoting inclusive peace processes, training women peacekeepers and contributing to inclusive National Action Plans in different parts of the world. Finland works closely with civil society to implement the Women, Peace and Security agenda.    

Advancing the rights and participation of women and girls is a cross‑cutting priority of Finland’s foreign policy. Through its Fourth National Action Plan (2023–2027), Finland promotes women’s meaningful participation at all stages of peace processes, recognizing that sustainable peace is not possible without inclusive decision‑making. 

Finland strengthens women’s leadership in peace processes through its Centre for Peace Mediation, in cooperation with the UN and other partners. Finland is a long-term supporter of the regional women mediator networks whose membership include hundreds of women mediators across the globe. Finland partners with the Nordic Women Mediators network (NWM) that has played a key role in support of women actors from conflict settings. For example, in 2020 the NWM supported the women delegates representing the Afghan government participating in the Doha negotiations with Taliban. Finland has also cooperated with FemWise‑Africa of AU and Arab Women Mediators Network of League of Arab States.  

In peace operations, Finland promotes gender‑responsive leadership and training and works to increase women’s participation in deployments. This includes UN peacekeeping courses and specialized police deployments addressing sexual and gender‑based violence. More inclusive missions are more effective. In civilian crisis management, about 40 % of the Finnish experts are women.

Addressing impunity is an integral part of Finland’s WPS work. Finland combats conflict-related sexual violence and advances accountability by supporting international mechanisms, such as the ICC Trust Fund for Victims, and the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence.

Finland also recognizes the intersection between gender equality, climate and security, and promotes approaches that strengthen resilience and the role of women in crisis-affected contexts.