Tarja Halonen

Tarja Halonen was the first woman elected as president of Finland, serving from 2000 to 2012.

World Leader

December 24, 1943

81

Tarja Halonen, a Finnish politician, made history as the first female President of Finland, serving from 2000 to 2012. Prior to her presidency, she was a Member of Parliament and Minister of Foreign Affairs. Halonen is a strong advocate for human rights, equality, and environmental protection, and has been actively involved in the United Nations’ promotion of sustainable development. She was appointed as a Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the 2007 UN Climate Change Conference.

Throughout her career, Halonen has led social and health policy reforms in Finland, campaigned for a nuclear-free zone in the Arctic, and received the Roosevelt Institute’s Four Freedoms Award for Freedom from Want in 2006. She is also an active member of the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation, serving as an honorary board member, and has participated in numerous initiatives promoting sustainable development and environmental protection. Halonen’s efforts to raise awareness about reducing carbon emissions and finding alternative energy sources have contributed to the fight against climate change.

As a testament to her leadership, Halonen’s popularity was demonstrated by her resounding victory in the presidential elections and her status as one of Finland’s most beloved leaders. She is also a member of the Council of Women World Leaders, an international network of current and former women presidents and prime ministers, where she collaborates with other women leaders to address issues important to women and equitable development.