To support discussion on equality and to celebrate Finland’s 100 years of independence, the Finnish Government will establish an international prize for gender equality. The launch of the prize was made by Prime Minister Juha Sipilä at the equality festival at Tampere Hall in Tampere, Finland, on International Women's Day March 8th. The celebration of the equality continues next weekend at the Women of the World Finland festival at Tampere Hall.
The purpose of the prize for gender equality is to promote discussion about equality in a global context. The prize will be awarded to a person or actor who has promoted gender equality in an internationally recognised way. The prize consists of a monetary award and the winner nominates a concrete target as a recipient of the monetary award to strengthen the position of women. The prize will be awarded in cooperation with the City of Tampere.
The prize, awarded once every second year, was established by the Government of Finland as part of Finland’s centenary celebrations. The prize will be awarded for the first time in autumn 2017. This year’s prize amounts to EUR 150,000 and is being financed from development cooperation appropriations. The recipient of the prize will be nominated by a competition jury appointed by the Prime Minister's Office. This year the composition of the jury is: Paulina Ahokas, chair and Managing Director of Tampere Hall and director of WOW Finland, Pekka Timonen, General Secretary for the Centenary and Rosa Meriläinen, author and researcher.
The public, both in Finland and abroad, are welcome to propose candidates for the prize for the competition jury to consider. The address for proposals will be announced on Minna Canth Day on 19 March 2017.
- The countries in which women contribute to society, are economically, socially, ecologically the most sustainable countries in the world. Gender equality and women participating in decision making are the solution to the problems of the world. Finland has a special role in international community: we were the first country to give full political rights for women. I am very proud my country is promoting gender equality. The gender equality is now more important than ever, says Paulina Ahokas, Managing Director of Tampere Hall.
The equality festival on International Women's Day was arranged by The Prime Minister’s Office, The Finland 100 Secretariat, The City of Tampere, Tampere Hall, WOW Finland, WOW Global and the project ISOT (the importance of being yourself).
WOW Finland at Tampere Hall
London Southbank Centre’s festival concept is now brought to the Nordic countries for the first time. Women of the World Finland festival will be held at Tampere Hall 11.3 - 12.3 and includes inspirational programmes ranging from panel discussions to galas and workshops in Finnish, Swedish and English. WOW Finland is one of the largest festivals ever held in Finland in terms of content and art forms. Over 700 people took part in WOW think ins held in 11 cities in Finland and had a chance to plan the festival.
There are over 150 speakers and performers at Tampere Hall next weekend, including former president Tarja Halonen, business leader Lenita Airisto, musicians Erin and Maija Vilkkumaa, actress Anna Paavilainen, French lawyer Jeanette Bougraib, Zambian activist Beauty Katebe andformer Prime Minister of Iceland Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir.
The WOW Finland process also includes a project in Finnish schools titled ISOT – Itsenä olemisen tärkeydestä (the importance of being yourself). As a result, over 63.000 Finnish ninth-grade students received a book by an award-winning Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi We Should All Be Feminists.
Inquiries
Tampere Hall: Managing Director Paulina Ahokas, +358 40 5511 551, paulina.ahokas(at)tampere-talo.fi
Press photos and logos https://www.epressi.com/mediapankki/kuvat.html?mediabank=40&p408=1&category=7117%20
Press release by the Prime Minister’s Office
Prime Minister launching the International Gender Equality Prize
Background to the International Gender Equality Prize
History of gender equality in Finland (Ministry of Social Affairs and Health)
© Koodiviidakko Oy - Y-tunnus 1939962-1