New York – The Honourable Isalean Phillip, Minister of Social Development and Gender Affairs; Youth Empowerment, Ageing and Disabilities held talks with H.E. Laura Rissanen, Vice Minister and State Secretary of Social Security of Finland, in the margins of the Sixty-ninth Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, being held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
The bilateral meeting was held at the Permanent Mission of Finland to the United Nations. The Ministers shared views on various matters of mutual interest related to human and social services. These included gender equality, volunteerism, ageing populations, inclusion of persons with disabilities, youth engagement and education.
Minister Phillip and Vice Minister Rissanen exchanged best practices being employed in their respective jurisdictions to address several of the emerging social challenges affecting their populace. Vice Minister Rissanen extended an invitation to Minister Phillip to participate in a study field visit to Finland, to gain firsthand knowledge of how their progressive social development policies and legislations, are positively transforming the lives and livelihoods of the people of Finland.
Finland is currently the President of the Nordic countries. Saint Kitts and Nevis and Finland established diplomatic relations on September 22, 2009.