Elisabeth Rehn, former Minister of Defence of Finland gave a lecture on
“A new life for the children of war: true stories from Africa”
On Wed September 21st, 2011
The international “Peace One Day 2011” offered the whole UWC Adriatic community an opportunity for talking and reflecting about peace: Elisabeth Rehn’s commitment and experience in humanitarian actions provided the basis for an outstanding speech and a workshop on war, peace, reconciliation and the work and ideals of the United Nations.
Students were inspired by Elisabeth Rehn’s life and career: “coming from a small village close to Helsinki” she became the first woman Minister of Defence of Finland (during the Presidency of the Nobel Price for Peace Martti Ahtisaari). Mrs. Rehn focused on her struggle for peace in troubled territories like Bosnia and Herzegovina, Liberia, Kosovo, Yemen, Palestine and Congo. The role played by women and children and their sufferings represented the main focus of her work aimed at the defence of human rights and the establishment the basis for reconciliation and peace among the populations.
During the workshop which followed the talk, students had the possibility to ask the speaker for her personal opinion and evaluation about several issues: for example the role of media during military actions or how to manage and solve a situation of conflict and deal with its consequences. Furthermore, they asked for her point of view regarding human values and above all, about peace: Mrs. Rehn encouraged them to think about this word – Peace – which is the key for answering to the present and future challenges of humanity.
“Although it seems you are doing a small, tiny thing for you and for the others – Elisabeth Rehn concluded – do it with all your heart because that will always be the base for peace-building. Nothing is more important than this word: peace”.
On the speaker:
Born 1935 in Helsinki, Finland, Elisabeth Rehn has been Minister of Defence and Equity Affairs in the Finnish Governments (1990 – 1995) after the Soviet Union collapse. She started working in the Finnish Parliament in 1979 as well as in the European Parliament. Her outstanding commitment for international affairs and humanitarian actions led her into several different occupations: she worked on peace-building and crisis management on behalf of Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and at the same time as an independent expert for the United Nations.
Thanks to her dedication to humanitarian affairs, she was appointed special “rapporteur” on the human rights’ situation in the Balkan area (Croatia, FYROM, Bosnia and Herzegovina) between 1995 and 1998. She was representative of the UN Secretary General in Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1998 and 1999. Between 2001 and 2002 she worked as UNIFEM expert on the impact of wars on women and on behalf of UNDP (United Nations Development Program) she worked on a report regarding the occupied territories of Palestine (2004). In her last experiences, Mrs. Rehn focused on the African situation developing several projects regarding the political and social role of women connected to conflicts, war and violence. She was co-organizer of the Women Leader’s Colloquium in Monrovia, Liberia – from 2006 until 2009. Furthermore she focused on the women’s role in political decision-making processes in Yemen – 2009 – and on a report regarding repairing sexual violence committed by armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo – 2010.
The international “Peace One Day 2011” offered the whole UWC Adriatic community an opportunity for talking and reflecting about peace: Elisabeth Rehn’s commitment and experience in humanitarian actions provided the basis for an outstanding speech and a workshop on war, peace, reconciliation and the work and ideals of the United Nations.
Students were inspired by Elisabeth Rehn’s life and career: “coming from a small village close to Helsinki” she became the first woman Minister of Defence of Finland (during the Presidency of the Nobel Price for Peace Martti Ahtisaari). Mrs. Rehn focused on her struggle for peace in troubled territories like Bosnia and Herzegovina, Liberia, Kosovo, Yemen, Palestine and Congo. The role played by women and children and their sufferings represented the main focus of her work aimed at the defence of human rights and the establishment the basis for reconciliation and peace among the populations.
During the workshop which followed the talk, students had the possibility to ask the speaker for her personal opinion and evaluation about several issues: for example the role of media during military actions or how to manage and solve a situation of conflict and deal with its consequences. Furthermore, they asked for her point of view regarding human values and above all, about peace: Mrs. Rehn encouraged them to think about this word – Peace – which is the key for answering to the present and future challenges of humanity.
“Although it seems you are doing a small, tiny thing for you and for the others – Elisabeth Rehn concluded – do it with all your heart because that will always be the base for peace-building. Nothing is more important than this word: peace”.
On the speaker:
Born 1935 in Helsinki, Finland, Elisabeth Rehn has been Minister of Defence and Equity Affairs in the Finnish Governments (1990 – 1995) after the Soviet Union collapse. She started working in the Finnish Parliament in 1979 as well as in the European Parliament. Her outstanding commitment for international affairs and humanitarian actions led her into several different occupations: she worked on peace-building and crisis management on behalf of Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and at the same time as an independent expert for the United Nations.
Thanks to her dedication to humanitarian affairs, she was appointed special “rapporteur” on the human rights’ situation in the Balkan area (Croatia, FYROM, Bosnia and Herzegovina) between 1995 and 1998. She was representative of the UN Secretary General in Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1998 and 1999. Between 2001 and 2002 she worked as UNIFEM expert on the impact of wars on women and on behalf of UNDP (United Nations Development Program) she worked on a report regarding the occupied territories of Palestine (2004). In her last experiences, Mrs. Rehn focused on the African situation developing several projects regarding the political and social role of women connected to conflicts, war and violence. She was co-organizer of the Women Leader’s Colloquium in Monrovia, Liberia – from 2006 until 2009. Furthermore she focused on the women’s role in political decision-making processes in Yemen – 2009 – and on a report regarding repairing sexual violence committed by armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo – 2010.
