On Febuary 28, 2020, the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security and The Embassy of Finland hosted a conversation with Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto on effective mediation and crisis management. Minister Haavisto shared lessons learned from his extensive work in Darfur and the Horn of Africa, as well as insights on the critical role of women and considerations of climate change in mediation processes.
Pekka Haavisto is the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland’s Green Party, with extensive experience in crisis management, political negotiation and mediation. He previously served as Minister of Development and the Environment and Minister for International Development, and was appointed as the Foreign Minister’s Special Representative for mediation and crisis management in Africa, working to strengthen Finland’s contribution to international mediation and prevention of crises. Prior to that, he served as the European Union Special Representative (EUSR) to Sudan and Darfur and as Special Advisor for the UN Assistant Secretary-General in the Darfur peace process, in addition to chairing the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Task Forces on environmental impacts of war in the Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq, Liberia, occupied Palestinian territory and Sudan. A current Member of Parliament, Minister Haavisto works to combat climate change, promote international peace and security, and develop equal partnerships between the EU and Africa.