Finland’s Status-updating through the UN Human Rights Council Campaign

Abstract

The Finnish Government practises a human rights-based foreign policy, and norm advocacy within international organisations is an integral part of this ambition. One priority was to apply for UN Human Rights Council (HRC) membership for the 2022-2024 term. This article studies the Finnish campaign from the theoretical perspective of a small state seeking to update its status through norm advocacy and UN campaigning. It claims that the HRC campaign is an important means of updating Finland’s status within its ambitious Nordic peer group. Updating a country’s status can be achieved by showing moral authority and good UN membership. It also demonstrates the challenges and opportunities set by the domestic and external situation, introducing the HRC campaign priorities, based on Finland’s country brand, and shows how these are refreshed. The article draws on foreign policy documentation, campaign materials and interviews with Finnish diplomats and public officials involved in the campaign.