Post by Eva Sula

57% of women in Finland have experienced physical violence, threats, or sexual violence during their lifetime. For a country that is often presented internationally as one of the world’s most equal societies, this should make all of us stop and think. I welcome the new campaign launched by UN Women Finland / Turunmaa Local Committee under the leadership of President Alexander Stubb because it addresses something that often receives too little attention: preventing violence against women is not only a women’s issue but a societal issue, and men must be part of the solution. At the same time, it is important to recognise that violence is not only physical. Violence can leave bruises, but it can also leave fear. It can appear as threats, intimidation, humiliation, coercion, harassment, isolation, silencing, retaliation, abuse of power, career damage, reputational attacks or creating an environment where people no longer feel safe speaking openly. Part of the reason this campaign resonates so strongly with me is that I have my own story and experiences. Healing takes time. Over the years, I have also spoken with many Finnish women, international women and Swedish-speaking women in Finland. While every story is different, certain themes repeat. One of the most concerning is how often fear enters the conversation. Not fear of violence itself, but fear of consequences. Fear of speaking, challenging the status quo, losing opportunities, being labelled difficult. Fear of becoming the problem instead of the behaviour being addressed. Many women do not speak because they believe nothing will change. Others remain silent because they fear damage to their careers, relationships, reputation or future opportunities. When enough people remain silent because of those fears, harmful patterns become normalised. They become part of the culture rather than something that is challenged. That is why campaigns like this matter- they encourage conversations that many people would otherwise avoid. No woman should have to choose between her safety and her career, speaking up and protecting her reputation. No woman should have to carry experiences in silence because she believes nobody will listen or she fears the consequences of being heard. Finland has many strengths, and there is much to admire about Finnish society. Real equality, however, requires the courage to confront uncomfortable realities, not just celebrate positive rankings and international perceptions. Progress begins when we are willing to look honestly at the gap between the society we aspire to be and the experiences many people still live with every day. Related reflections: https://lnkd.in/dGCBjE5b UN Women Finland campaign: https://lnkd.in/gzEBPcDM #EndViolenceAgainstWomen #Equality #Leadership #Finland #HumanRights