NordenBladet — We welcome our new Ambassador Ms. Anne Lammila in South Africa. She started her work in Pretoria and today 19 November 2020 presented her credentials to President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Ambassador Anne LammilaAmbassador Lammila looks forward her time in South Africa. For her, working in this fascinating and multifaceted country is a dream come true. Finland views South Africa as one of the most promising partners in the African continent and is preparing at the moment its strategy on Africa. This strategy is based on partnership with the countries of the continent and its focus will be in reinforcing our political and commercial ties with them, including South Africa.

Ambassador Lammila comes from Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation, where she worked as the Consul-General of Finland. Saint Petersburg Consulate General is the biggest bilateral representation that Finland has in the world. Previous ambassadorial posts in Ms. Lammila’s career include Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues and Gender Equality (2015-2017) and Ambassador to Mexico accredited to Cuba, Haiti and Central America (2011-2015). Previously, she was the Deputy Head of Mission of the Finnish Embassy in Washington (2007-2011) and held various directorship positions in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, including in the Americas and Asia department. She was also the Deputy Permanent Delegate in Finland’s Permanent Mission to UNESCO, in Paris (1995-2000). Earlier in her career, Ms. Lammila served in the Finnish Embassies in Madrid and Brasilia.

She holds a Master of Science Degree in Economics and Business Administration from the Turku School of Economics and Business Administration. Aside from Finnish, Ms. Lammila speaks Swedish, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Russian. She is married to Mr. Markku Saksa, journalist and writer, and the couple has three adult children.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — The 2020 Afghanistan Conference, co-organised by Finland, the United Nations and the Afghan Government, will be held on Monday and Tuesday, 23–24 November. The conference will take place in the middle of a historic peace process. Continuing support from the international community is needed to have a sustainable foundation for the peace process and to achieve peace. Finland’s representatives at the conference will be Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto and Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, the ministerial conference will be held virtually with Geneva as the hub of logistics.

“Organising the conference under these circumstances is a remarkable achievement for Finland. It is important that we support Afghanistan now — significant results have already been achieved through support provided by the international community, including Finland. In fact, international support and long-term commitment to Afghanistan is now more important than ever before,” says Janne Taalas, Finland’s Special Envoy to the 2020 Afghanistan Conference.

Finland supports, significant results achieved

Finland supports Afghanistan through development cooperation and humanitarian aid, as well as by participating in military and civilian crisis management. Finland exerts influence in the country as a Member State of the European Union and as part of the international community. Finland is a strong promoter of the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan.

To date, the support provided by the international community and Finland has led to significant results in Afghanistan, for example when it comes to access to education and health services. The number of children going to school has grown almost tenfold, 40% of schoolchildren are girls, people’s general life expectancy has risen to nearly 60 years, and 80% of the citizens have access to health services.The 2020 Afghanistan Conference to be held on 23 and 24 November can be followed live on the UN website. Interpretation into the six official languages of the UN will be provided.

More information:2020 Aghanistan Conference -websiteUnited  Nations Assistance Mission in  AghanistanFinland’s Special Envoy for 2020 Afghanistan Conference holds meetings in Doha, Qatar (Press release 7.11. 2020)Afghanistan and International partners prepare for 2020 Afghanistan Conference (Press release 6.10. 2020)2020 Afghanistan Conference and the path to peace, prosperity and self-reliance (Press release 15.9. 2020)

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, and Finland are collaborating to create international policy guidance for the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI) that affects children.

The new guidance will help governments, municipalities and companies to make sure that the AI solutions used by them will work for the best interest of the child.In global terms, a third of internet users are children aged under 18. AI plays a big role in children’s lives: it is an integral part of interactive toys, video games and various mobile phone solutions, for example.

The rapid development AI involves huge potential in such areas affecting children as learning, health and security.  Other relevant questions are related to violations of privacy, inequality when it comes to digital skills, and the impact of the accumulated data for the future of the child. While it is difficult for adults to understand the traces they leave in the virtual world, for children it is particularly difficult — and they should not have the responsibility for such matters.

”What often happens as a result of rapid technological development is that it is challenging to keep up with the change and to ensure that AI serves us in a human-centric manner,” says Ambassador for Innovations Jarmo Sareva.

“People have the right to childhood as a special stage in life. If AI offers solutions that weaken the preconditions for human agency by commercialising childhood, we are not going in the right direction. Children are also more vulnerable than adults, which is why this sort of guidance is needed.

”The international policy guidance that is now being prepared is the first of its kind. It aims to help both governments, municipalities, companies and others using and developing AI to take the needs and rights of children into account. In the course of the process, children and youth have been consulted extensively.

Finns take part in testingFinland’s expertise and experience in the area make it a natural partner for UNICEF.  Finland is among the first countries to have published their own national artificial intelligence strategy and it has supported UNICEF’s Office of Innovation and its Innovation Fund.

Finnish users are taking part in the development and testing of the AI guidance. Their experiences will be helpful when the draft policy guidance will be finalised.

“Stakeholders were selected from among actors with diverse backgrounds and operating environments from around the world. For example, the Helsinki University Hospital (HUS) is already using virtual applications that are suitable for piloting the guidance,” Sareva says.

The Psychiatry Department of the Helsinki University Hospital has developed two chatbots, Milli and Chillaa. Milli helps children to assess the severity of their symptoms and guides them to suitable services. Another chatbot is Chillaa, which offers exercises, tips and peer guidance for dealing with stress and social anxiety.

The Eksote joint municipal authority for health and social services in South Karelia and Fujitsu Finland are also among the piloting organisations. They have developed an AI solution, called Nuora, which helps to identify and prevent the risk social exclusion among young people. SomeBuddy (formerly Someturva) has created an online application for victims of cyberbullying and online harassment.The guidance is being tested not only in Finland but also, among others, in Sweden, the UK, Japan, Malta, Chile, the United States, Rwanda, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. Based on the user experiences, the guidance will be finalised and published at an international conference to be held in Helsinki at the end of 2021.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — At their informal videoconference on 19 November, the members of the European Council discussed COVID-19 testing, vaccination and measures to prevent a new wave of the disease during the holiday season at the turn of the year. Finland emphasised the need for a common strategy.

At the beginning of the meeting, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, which currently holds the EU Council Presidency, reported on the state of play regarding the EU’s multiannual financial framework and the recovery fund, but there was no further debate on the matter. The major recovery package aims to support EU economies in recovering from the setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In Finland’s view, it is important for the work to proceed in line with what the EU leaders agreed in July. “Finland considers it important to remain closely in line with the conclusions of the July European Council and to ensure that the key elements of the recovery instrument are not separated from one another. Creating a rule of law mechanism that functions as effectively as possible is an essential part of the recovery package,” said Prime Minister Sanna Marin. During the video meeting, Finland expressed support for the European Commission’s 18 November recommendation on the use of rapid antigen tests to diagnose the disease and for the mutual recognition of test results among the Member States.

The EU leaders were briefed on the current situation with regard to the procurement and distribution of vaccines. The meeting highlighted the increasing need for Member States to share information with one another in order to support research and development. The EU leaders have also focused on efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in their previous meetings. Joint EU actions were widely discussed at the European Council on 15 October in Brussels and in the videoconference on 29 October.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — The EU ministers responsible for gender equality will hold an informal videoconference on 20 November to discuss the combating of violence against women. The ministers will also present best practices on how to protect women from violence and support victims. Finland will be represented at the conference by Minister for Nordic Cooperation and Equality Thomas Blomqvist.

Studies show that intimate partner violence and especially violence against women have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of this, the availability and continuity of different support services are more important than ever. An example of best practices in Finland is Nollalinja, a nationwide helpline for those who have experienced intimate partner violence and violence against women or a threat of violence. This free-of-charge helpline is open around the clock, and it can be called anonymously.“Intimate partner violence has increased alarmingly during the COVID-19 crisis. Finland pays particular attention to supporting victims of intimate partner violence and other people in the most vulnerable position. We have made sure that support services are accessible even during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, many third-sector service providers have started to offer more telephone and online services for those who have experienced violence,” says Minister Blomqvist.

Besides each country’s own measures, Finland stresses the fact that the EU works to strengthen cooperation in combating violence against women. The EU’s accession to the Istanbul Convention of the Council of Europe would be an important step forward. The EU Gender Equality Strategy includes a set of measures to combat gender-based violence. The meeting organised by Germany that is intended only for gender equality ministers is exceptional. Similar meetings have not been arranged during every presidency.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — On 19 November 2020, the Government submitted to Parliament a proposal supplementing the budget proposal for 2021.The Government proposes that the appropriation for promoting walking and cycling be increased by EUR 25 million. So in 2021, the allocation to the investment programme for walking and cycling, i.e. to municipal grants, would amount to EUR 28.5 million.

Minister of Transport and Communications Timo Harakka considers the role of walking and cycling important in terms of both the environment and health.”The Government hopes that the municipalities will continue to have the opportunity to improve the conditions for walking and cycling across Finland. It is an effective way to increase sustainable mobility and people’s wellbeing,” Minister Harakka says.

This year, the state will support the improvement of walking and cycling conditions of the municipal street network with a record-high amount of EUR 31.5 million. The goal is to make the decisions on the grants by the end of 2020.This is the first year that the municipalities are able to apply for government grant for the walking and cycling promotion programmes. Applications should be submitted by the end of November.The aim of the promotion programme is to increase the number of walking and cycling trips by 30 per cent by 2030. All these measures support the achievement of the objective.

Support for maintenance of private roads and for advisory tasks and guidance
The Government proposes an appropriation of EUR 17 million for private road grants. In total, an appropriation of EUR 30 million is proposed for private road grants for 2021. The grant may be allocated for maintenance of private roads, provision of advice and guidance for private road maintenance associations, production of supporting material and services as well as for development, planning and research on private roads.

Flights to regional airports will be ensured also during the COVID-19 pandemicDue to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government proposes that for 2021 an appropriation of EUR 11.5 million be allocated to flight connections to regional airports.The proposal is based on the outcome of the working group on regional air services. The working group led by State Secretary Pilvi Torsti proposed in its final report in September 2020 that the state purchase air transport services to Kokkola, Joensuu, Kajaani, Jyväskylä and Kemi airports until the end of 2021.The Transport and Communications Agency, Traficom, has launched a tendering process for the procurement of these air transport services.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — The Government proposes that the legislative amendments relating to the unemployment benefit of laid-off employees and entrepreneurs, and the activities of Employment and Economic Development Offices (TE Offices) be partly continued. The temporary amendments aim to safeguard the livelihoods of laid-off employees and entrepreneurs and to facilitate the handling of unemployment security matters amid the prolonged coronavirus pandemic.

The Government submitted the proposal to Parliament on 19 November 2020. Some of the temporary amendments, which are set to expire at the end of 2020, would be extended. The government proposal is included in the supplementary budget proposal for 2021.

Laid-off employees can study without losing unemployment securityLaid-off employees have had a temporary right to study full-time without the studies having an effect on their unemployment benefit. The Government proposes that the amendment remain in force until 31 December 2021. The amendment will apply to those laid off on or after 16 March 2020.

The amendment will help laid-off employees, who work and study, to apply for and receive unemployment benefit during the lay-off, because the TE Office does not assess whether the studies are of full-time or part-time nature.

Entrepreneurs to receive labour market support until end of March
Entrepreneurs have been temporarily entitled to labour market support if full-time work in the company has ended due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Government proposes that the provision remain in force until 31 March 2021.

In order to receive labour market support, a person must register as a jobseeker with the TE Office and the TE Office must issue a labour policy statement on their entitlement to labour market support to the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela). Kela has paid labour market support to approximately 42,500 entrepreneurs in April–September 2020.

Flexibility in the tasks of TE Offices helps avoid backlogs

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, TE Offices have been able to organise periodic interviews with jobseekers more flexibly than usual. Interviews have only been arranged at the start of the job search with jobseekers with a special need for an interview. The Government proposes that the amendment remain in force until 31 January 2021.

In addition, the provision under which unemployed jobseekers will not lose their right to unemployment benefit due to the failure to implement the employment plan will be extended until 31 January 2021.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — To curb the spread of COVID-19, the activities of food and beverage services businesses, that is restaurants, bars and cafes, will be restricted depending on the epidemiological situation in the region. The main rule is that, in the five regions where the COVID-19 epidemic has reached the acceleration phase, food and beverage service businesses must continue to follow tighter restrictions than the rest of the country. These restrictions apply to the regions of Uusimaa, Southwest Finland, Pirkanmaa, Kanta-Häme and Ostrobothnia.

The government decree on the matter will enter into force on 20 November 2020.Same restrictions will apply to Ostrobothnia as to other regions in acceleration phaseThe COVID-19 epidemic has calmed down in Ostrobothnia, and at the moment, the region is no longer in the community transmission phase but in the acceleration phase. The current phase was determined based on the opinions from the Vaasa Hospital District and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.

The food and beverage service businesses operating in Ostrobothnia will therefore be subject to the same restrictions as the food and beverage service businesses in Uusimaa, Southwest Finland, Kanta-Häme and Pirkanmaa, all of which are currently in the acceleration phase. This means that in Ostrobothnia, as in the other regions in the acceleration phase, businesses must stop serving alcoholic beverages by 22.00. Businesses that primarily serve alcoholic beverages may be open between 24.00 and 23.00. Other food and beverage service businesses may be open between 1.00 and 24.00. In Ostrobothnia, too, other food and beverage service businesses may stay open to customers for two hours after licensing hours have ended starting on 20 November 2020. In addition, food and beverage service businesses operating in the regions where the epidemic has reached the acceleration phase will be allowed to seat only half of their normal number of customers inside their establishments.  Provisions on the restrictions on the activities of food and beverage service businesses are laid down in section 58a of the Communicable Diseases Act. This temporary section will remain in force until 28 February 2021. Further provisions on restrictions are issued by government decree.They lay down provisions on the restrictions concerning the opening and licencing hours of food and beverage service businesses by region and type of restaurant. The aim of the restrictions to be imposed based on the epidemiological situation in the region is to reduce people’s social contacts in premises and situations where the COVID-19 disease is known to spread effectively.

The restrictions will remain in force only for as long as it is necessary, but no longer than until 15 December 2020.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — Finland allocates EUR 3.1 million to Finnish civil society organisations’ projects that are implemented in response to the humanitarian needs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has exacerbated ongoing humanitarian crises and forced new regions and population groups to seek emergency relief.“Civil society organisations play an important role in humanitarian work. The coronavirus pandemic has accentuated the importance of their role,” says Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari. “Civil society organisations know the local operating environments well. They have the capacity to react promptly and effectively modify ongoing projects in order to alleviate the distress and suffering caused by the pandemic”.Finnish organisations and their local partners will use the funding granted by the Foreign Ministry to various purposes, including disseminating information about the prevention of coronavirus infections, improving access to clean water, offering treatment for COVID-19 patients, strengthening food security in communities, and supporting safe reopening of schools. More than 200,000 people in Yemen, Uganda, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zimbabwe benefit from these projects.Funding will be directed to Fida International, Finn Church Aid, Save the Children Finland, Plan Finland, Finnish Red Cross and World Vision Finland. These organisations are the Foreign Ministry’s regular partners in humanitarian action.  Earlier in the year, the Ministry has allocated EUR 10 million to the work of these CSOs. 

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi

NordenBladet — On 20 November 2020, Minister of Defence Antti Kaikkonen will attend an unofficial meeting via video connection for the EU Defence Ministers and, in addition, the Steering Board meeting of the European Defence Agency (EDA).

The agenda of the unofficial meeting includes a strategic evaluation of the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) and the process of strategic evaluation and steering of EU security and defence cooperation called a “Strategic Compass”.

The Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD) will be presented at the Steering Board meeting and EDA’s first post-Brexit budget and a three-year work plan will be discussed.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi