AI Index: IOR 41/017/2008

PUBLIC

Human Rights Council

Eighth Session

2-18 June 2008

Agenda Item 6

Amnesty International and World Committee for Consultation (Quakers)

Oral statement on the outcome on Finland under the Universal Periodic Review

9 June 2008

Check against delivery

Mr. President,

Amnesty International and Friends World Committee for Consultation (Quakers) welcome the serious and open way in which Finland approached its participation in the Universal Periodic Review.

However, we note that Finland was one of the first States to be reviewed. In consequence not all the questions raised and comments made were phrased as ‘recommendations’ and, therefore, did not get reflected as such in the report of the Working Group, for example, the issue of the excessive length of alternative civilian service in comparison to the military service addressed in paragraph 36 of the report of the Working Group. We hope that Finland will, nevertheless, treat this issue as though a specific recommendation had been made and give effect to that recommendation.

Thank you, Mr President

MORE INFORMATION

• See a representative from Amnesty International deliver this statement at the Human Rights Council. Watch the video on: rtsp://webcast.un.org/ondemand/conferences/unhrc/eighth/hrc080609pm3-eng.rm?start=00:11:51&end=00:12:52

(UN webcast - www.un.org)