Finland will not participate in a gender-equality alliance for the rebuilding of Ukraine, commercial broadcaster MTV has reported, following a decision by Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio (Finns).
The "Alliance for Gender-Responsive and Inclusive Recovery" was launched at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin in June. Its stated aim is to "ensure that gender equality and women's empowerment are central to Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction efforts".
It is backed by the Ukrainian and German governments in particular, with the Ukrainian branch of UN Women playing a key role. Participants in the alliance include the foreign ministries or development agencies of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Estonia, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as the EU.
However, citing several official sources, MTV reported that Tavio decided Finland would not join the alliance because its work includes the promotion of the causes of gender and sexual minorities.
Tavio did not deny to MTV that this was the reason for his decision.
"As far as Ukraine is concerned, the humanitarian aid side has focused more on the disabled, the elderly and so on. It's a question of focus," the minister said.
Finnish media outlets have previously reported that issues related to sexual and gender minorities are not progressing under Tavio's watch, and that he does not allow any mention of sexual or gender minorities in his speeches.
In an interview with Finnish news agency STT, Tavio's special advisor denied the minister avoided such topics in his speeches.
Tavio has courted controversy in the past, with Helsingin Sanomat reporting last year that he has spoken in Parliament on numerous occasions about the far-right conspiracy theory that non-white people would demographically replace ethnic Finns — a reference to the controversial Great Replacement theory.
He was also widely criticised for referring to the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games as a "freak show" in a post on X.
PM: Tavio made the decision
During a question-and-answer session with political journalists at his official Kesäranta residence on Friday morning, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) confirmed that he was aware of Tavio's decision.
"I did not make any decisions about this, this is under Tavio's remit," Orpo said, but added that the decision regarding the equality alliance does not affect Finland's other policies regarding Ukraine.
He further noted that the equality alliance was just one aspect of the Ukraine Recovery Conference, with others including civil protection and the repair of infrastructure — which Finland still supports.
"I think it would be in line with the government's policies to participate [in the equality alliance], but the minister has made a decision," Orpo said.
Opposition MPs condemn decision
Tavio's decision not to join the Ukraine alliance has been greeted with surprise and condemnation among opposition MPs, especially as it seems to deviate from Finland's long-held foreign policy goals of promoting equality and improving the status of women and girls.
"Finland is known for this [policy] across the world and has been a reliable partner in projects promoting equality and inclusion. It is really worrying that one minister alone is walking over Finland's long-term policies," Green Party MP Hanna Holopainen said.
"The decision not to join the Ukraine alliance is shocking and in blatant contradiction of our values. If the government's foreign policy line has not changed, why is minister Tavio allowed to make a contradictory decision?" Social Democrat MP Jani Kokko asked.
Finland's decision not to join the alliance will also raise further questions about where the Finnish government is aligned on LGBTQ issues, especially in light of Russia's stance and the role the subject played in the Kremlin's justification for invading Ukraine in February 2022.
TIME magazine reported last year that Russian President Vladimir Putin framed the attack at the time as an attempt to protect traditional values from "Western countries’ acceptance and legal recognition of LGBT people".
Article updated at 12:05 on 20.9.2024 to add Orpo's comments and at 13:49 to add comments from opposition MPs.
EDIT 23.4.2024: The story originally stated that Finland "withdrew" from the alliance. It has been edited to reflect the fact that Finland never joined in the first place, because of the minister's decision.
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