Blog by Sandra Gonzalez Sköld, SI Gunnel Hazelius-Berg
SI CSW70 Delegate
This year, the Helvi Sipilä Seminar celebrated its 20th anniversary, an event that is more than just a commemoration; it is a vital continuation of the legacy left by one of Finland’s most influential women.
The seminar, which took place on 11 March and was one of the official side events of CSW70 (the 70th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women), brought together leading voices to discuss the very themes Helvi Sipilä championed throughout her life. The event was organised in cooperation by the FFGW, the National Council of Women of Finland, NYTKIS, and the YWCA of Finland, underscoring the breadth of its support.
**The Woman Behind the Seminar: Helvi Sipilä**
Helvi Sipilä (1915–2009) was a true pioneer who made history as the:
- First female Assistant Secretary-General of the UN
- First female presidential candidate in Finland
- Secretary-General for the UN World Conference on Women in Mexico, and co-creator of the UN Fund for the Advancement of Women
Her sharp, often provocative insights live on. A telling quote from her, highlighted during the seminar, was: _”The thing is, you talk about democracy and economics, but I have this funny idea that women have something to do with the increase in population.”_
While we celebrate the advancements made, we must actively protect the progress that has been achieved. We are currently in a critical time where digital platforms are increasingly weaponised to undermine women’s leadership. Digital spaces are being used to harass female politicians, often through the spread of false rumours intended to ridicule women, frequently combined with manipulated or AI-generated images. The defence of democracy and gender equality now demands vigilance both online and offline.
**Highlights from the Programme and Paths Forward**
The anniversary seminar featured an impressive lineup of speakers:
- Opening Remarks: Delivered by Sanni Grahn-Laasonen, Finland’s Minister of Social Security
- Keynote Speech: Given by Kirsi Madi, Deputy Executive Director for Resource Management, Sustainability and Partnerships at UN Women
- Moderator: The event was led by Silvia Modig, President of the National Council of Women in Finland
- Closing Remarks: Provided by Elina Kalkku, Permanent Representative of Finland to the UN
The crucial panel discussion, which included international guests such as Yuliya Kusher (Solo for Diamonds, Ukraine), Lushomo Thebe (World YWCA), and Rose Rwabuhihi (Inspire Impact Hub, Rwanda), focused on potential solutions and strategies to meet the current challenges.
Key takeaways and proposed solutions from the panel included:
- _Embracing Shared Leadership_: Moving towards models of shared leadership to distribute power and responsibility
- _Intergenerational Teaming_: Actively encouraging older and younger women to team up and share knowledge, perspectives, and strategies
- _The Solidarity Imperative_: Making a commitment to do one thing for another woman, always, and to show solidarity for all women and girls
- _Turning Backlash into Growth_: Taking the time for this current backlash to be informative and improve our strategies for resilience and protection
