16th International Helvi Sipilä Seminar

My Body Is Mine – Legislation, Consent and Women’s Rights

The 16th International Helvi Sipilä webinar My Body Is Mine – Legislation, Consent and Women’s Rights will take place on the eve of International Women’s Day, on Monday 7 March 2022 at 16–17.30 Helsinki time. The event is organised online and in English.

Please register here by 4th March

During the webinar we will look at consent in the context of sexual violence and harassment, discussing legislative and other means to ensure the full realization of women’s human rights. Finland’s ongoing legal reform on sexual offences will be compared to similar developments globally.

PROGRAM
Welcome

Opening remarks
Finland’s consent-based legislative reform on sexual offences

Anna-Maja Henriksson, Minister of Justice of Finland

Comment
Legislation, Consent, and Women’s Rights from the perspective of women’s organizations

Saara-Sofia Sirén, President of the National Council of Women of Finland, MP

Keynote speech
Sexual equality: the importance of consent-based definitions of rape

Jacqui Hunt, Global Lead – End Sexual Violence at Equality Now

Panelists

Puja Mandal, Rise Up! Young Woman Lead at Young Women’s Christian Association YWCA of India
Clara Berglund, Secretary General at the Swedish Women’s Lobby
Päivi Kannisto, Chief, Peace and Security at UN Women

Moderator:
Merja Kähkönen, Advocacy Coordinator, The National Council of Women of Finland

Closing words
Fatim Diarra, Chairperson of the Coalition of Finnish Women’s Associations NYTKIS

The event is organized by the Finnish Federation of Graduate Women, National Council of Women of Finland, UN Women Finland, the Coalition of Finnish Women’s Associations NYTKIS and YWCA of Finland.