President Halonen in West Africa: Women need more opportunities

According to President of the Republic Tarja Halonen, supporting African women and continuing a dialogue between north and south were key accomplishments in her visit to four West African countries. President Halonen and Dr Arajärvi returned from a trip to Senegal, Liberia, Nigeria and Benin on Thursday, 12 March. The timing of the trip was determined by an international colloquium on women's leadership that was held in Monrovia, Liberia on 7-8 March. President Halonen and President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia convened and co-chaired the colloquium. For Liberia the colloquium created faith in the future and received a lot of attention on the African continent. President Halonen pointed out that women need economic opportunities and the world needs women's business activities. Educating girls is an effective way to improve an economy. "Both women and men need work, which is hard to find without education. Education has also been the path to prosperity in Finland," President Halonen said in Liberia.

President Tarja Halonen and President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia co-chaired a colloquium on women's leadership. Copyright © Office of the President of the Republic

Cross-cutting themes during the West African visits were the position of women, human rights and the development of democracy, the financial crisis and climate issues. President Halonen emphasized that everyone must be included in fighting climate change, not just political leaders. Climate change will have the most serious effects on the poorest regions and the most vulnerable groups of people.

In the countries that President Halonen visited, interest was expressed particularly in Finnish clean technology, the handling of drinking water and wastewater and the use of renewable sources of energy.

West Africa has been an unknown region

President Halonen ended her trip to West Africa with an official visit to Benin on 11-12 March 2009. In Benin she met with President Thomas Yayi Bon in Cononous and stopped at the Finnish-African Cultural Centre Villa Karo.

President Thomas Yayi Bon of Benin and President of the Republic Tarja Halonen. Photo: Lehtikuva

In her meeting with President Yayi Bon, President Halonen stressed the strengthening of bilateral relations between Finland and Benin as well as climate issues. She attached special importance to cooperation between NGOs in both countries. West Africa has been an unknown region to Finns. Countries where there are problems more easily draw publicity and attention. President Halonen said that she also wanted to visit countries with a stable democracy, such as Benin.

During her official visit President Halonen toured the Finnish-African Cultural Centre Villa Karo on Wednesday, 11 March. The cultural centre, which is located in the town of Grand Popo, is striving to improve Finns' knowledge of Africa and promote cooperation among Finnish and African artists.

President Halonen and Dr Arajärvi began their trip to West Africa on 3 March with a state visit to Senegal. In addition to Benin the programme included a state visit to Liberia and an official visit to Nigeria.

Minister of Migration and European Affairs Astrid Thors was among the accompanying delegation.

Photo: Lehtikuva

Opening statement by President Halonen at the Colloquium in Monrovia, Liberia

President Halonen the new Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders