In Finland, on December 9, UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Finland, H.E. Mr. Timo Soini. They came together to discuss the need to find a political solution for the issues taking place in Syria and Libya. Most notably, however, Mr. Ban Ki-moon thanked Finland for their efforts on “conflict prevention and mediation and underlined the importance of Finland as a strategic partner of the United Nations on prevention, mediation and peacekeeping efforts.” In addition, the two spoke about how to support problems related to women, peace, and security. With that said, it is important to note that Finland has always been an important partner of the UN’s, particularly in regards to helping to empower women and the work of the organization, UN Women.

However, at the moment, the main focus on Finland has been on its acceptance of Syrian refugees. The reception of refugees by the Finnish people has been praised on multiple occasions, and they have actively spoken out against xenophobia and discrimination. When commenting on Finland’s response to and treatment of Syrian refugees, Ban Ki-moon noted that “Such systems must always be designed and also emulated by other people and other Governments. They are taking care of…traumatized people who are feeling extreme exhaustion and despair, but it is important to give them a sense of hope and promise for a better future.”

Nevertheless, while it is unfortunate that more countries cannot be as open and accepting as Finland, it is understandable as people are fearful due to rising security concerns. For instance, many countries in Europe have become concerned about allowing refugees to enter their borders based on the fact that improper or inadequate screening can allow potential terrorists to slip into the country, which can create serious issues for a nation’s security. With that said, while shunning misunderstood refugees out of fear can be a reasonable response, this does not mean that it is correct. For example, by accepting refugees as human beings and not simply regarding them as potential security concerns, Finland has demonstrated a unique bravery and altruism.

On another note, while it is important to protect the people within a state’s borders, does this then make it acceptable to neglect those people who no longer have a home and who are seeking safety for themselves and their families? As such, it is crucial to consider what a state’s responsibilities are. In response to this, Ban Ki-moon proposed that the UN Member States “convene a summit-level meeting…for world leaders to discuss creating a global compact for responsibility sharing.” The upcoming World Humanitarian Summit in May of 2016 may be a good place to engage in this type of work as “All these important international conferences…will provide [an] impetus for world leaders and people to do much more to provide humanitarian assistance to those people who need urgent humanitarian support. Let’s work together to make this world better for all, particularly for those people who need our urgent support.”

People who are displaced by conflict should not be feared, instead, they should receive help. As well, while countries are within their right to ensure their populations are kept safe and to confirm a person’s identity, this does not have end with people, who need help, being turned away. With hard work, governments can create and implement solutions for refugees. To be clear, there is little to be gained by treating everyone with contempt, especially when their situation or way of life is misunderstood on an international scale. As a result, Finland’s actions should qualify them to be a considered to be a role model for the rest of Europe and the world.