Finland's President Calls on Men to Stop Violence Against Women
President Alexander Stubb has urged men to take an active role in ending violence against women, citing data that on average a woman is brutally killed every two weeks in Finland this year.
Finland's President Alexander Stubb has addressed the public with a call to end violence against women. In a statement posted on social media platform X, he said that men must not remain silent and called for making Finland a safe country for women together. Stubb also encouraged men to sign an online declaration by the UN Women organization, publicly committing to actively work to eradicate violence against women.
Statistics reveal that in the first five months of this year, a woman was violently killed on average every two weeks in Finland. In all cases, a man has been suspected of the murder. European Union data indicate that 57% of Finnish women have experienced physical or sexual violence or threats in their lifetime.
Campaign organizers highlight the so-called "Finland paradox": despite the country being a pioneer in gender equality, violence against women is deeply rooted at all levels of society. Violence occurs in homes, workplaces, and online, with rhetoric that justifies or downplays the severity of such actions growing louder.
The core message of the campaign emphasizes the crucial role of men – it is not enough to personally refrain from violence; active intervention and condemnation are needed. Men are urged to take action to prevent and stop any form of violence and harassment against women.
