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National Commissions: UNESCO
English Français

Europe and North America

Finland
Finnish National Commission for UNESCO
General Information
English NameFinnish National Commission for UNESCO
Address

Ministry of Education and Culture
International Relations
P.O Box 29
FIN-00023 Government
Finland

Phone+358-295 3 30004 (switchboard)
+358-295 3 30114 (Sec-Gen.)
Fax(358-9) 1607-6980
E-mailunesco@minedu.fi; zabrina.holmstrom@minedu.fi
National Commissions Web site on unesco.orghttp://www.unesco.fi
Correspondence LanguageENGLISH
Office Holders
NameMs Jutta Urpilainen
TitleChairperson
StartedJanuary 2015

NameMs Johanna Maula
TitleVice-Chairperson
StartedMarch 2011
Type of AppointmentElected from amongst the members of the General Assembly.
Government PostOther

NameMs Zabrina Holmström
TitleSecretary-General
Election DateSeptember 1995
Mandated durationnot fixed
StartedSeptember 1995
Type of Appointmentex officio
Government PostOther

Description
Date and Method of Creation8 February 1957
StatusSemi_Governmental
Department attached toThe Commission is a subordinate advisory, expert and cooperating body to the Ministry of Education and Culture
Legislation DatesThe judicial text was accepted13/01/1958 and last revised 11/03/1966
LegislationThe Statutes of the Commission, which is an advisory body of the Ministry of Education, were adopted in January 1958. The missions of the National Commission are defined in the Governmental Decree dating back to 1966.
Documentation CentreNo documentation centre. Whereas main UNESCO publications (world reports, etc) are held at the Library of the Ministry of Education, the Jyväskylä University Library is the depositary for all UNESCO publications. Visitors to the library are mainly academics and students but the collections are open to the general public also.
Structure of the CommissionThe National Commission is composed of:
- The General Assembly
- Ado-hoc Working groups
- The Secretariat
Members/CompositionThe Finnish National Commission is independent, and its members consist of high level experts with their respective supporting networks or institutions behind them. In order to cover all fields of work of UNESCO and to get access to input from the best knowledge and to human resources, most of the members are from the outset expected to be involved in the work of not only other intergovernmental, as well as non-governmental organizations (NGOs). More or less as a rule, NGOs, such as the human rights league, the UN Association or artists associations, are asked to propose candidates for nomination to the National Commissions.
Executive CommitteeComposed of 12 members, representing the Ombudsman for Children in Finland, the Parliament, governmental and academic institutions, universities, cultural centres, and a professional association (Union of Journalists). The representatives of the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have the right to be present and speak at the meetings of the Commission. Members are appointed for a four-year term on the basis of broad consultations.
General AssemblyThe enlarged Commission meets two to three times per year (General Assembly with invited guests).
Committees or Sub-CommitteesThe Commission favours a light structure and appoints working groups on ad hoc basis
Interaction with UNESCO and National Commissions
OverviewThe Finnish National Commission collaborates with other National Commissions sub- and interregionally.
The cooperation with other Nordic Commissions is particularly close.

The Commission cooperates also with field offices in Africa.
Ms Zabrina Holmström, Secretary-General, participated as a resource person in the Training Seminar for New Officials of the National Commissions of ENA region (Bratislava, Slovakia, 27-29 November 2007).