Finland reiterates its firm support for the High Commissioner and finds it essential that her Office be provided with adequate resources through the UN regular budget. Finland strongly supports the fundamental principle that all human rights are universal. The principle of universality is based on the inherent dignity of each human being. Finland has emphasised the fundamental importance of the universality principle in various practical contexts including the realization of the human rights of women and girls. Cultural, historical and religious factors can be taken into account but they can never be invoked to legitimize human rights violations.
Human rights are indivisible and interdependent and interrelated.
Civil and political as well as economic, social and cultural rights should be realized in parallel. Finland aims at strengthening the position of economic, social and cultural rights alongside with civil and political rights. In this regard, Finland attaches great importance to the drafting of an optional protocol to the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Furthermore, Finland is prepared to acknowledge the positive potential contained in certain more recent concepts, notably the right to development. Finland emphasizes that the protection and promotion of all human rights is a key indication of sustainable development and, at the same time, a fundamental precondition for development.