Martti Ahtisaari – a decent start

The Elders launched “fairness films” to support UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Martti Ahtisaari, Former President of Finland and Nobel Peace Laureate, selected the Finnish Maternity Box to symbolise his view of fairness. The box is given by the state to every expecting mother who attends a health care check before the 4th pregnancy month. The Elders are independent leaders using their collective experience and influence for peace, justice and human rights worldwide. The group was founded by Nelson Mandela in 2007. The video is one minute and 21 seconds in length.

Description of the video:

The video shows Martti Ahtisaari unpacking a maternity package and showing the different items in it, while explaining the background of the box and how it represents fairness.

“This is the maternity package which, in Finland, every child gets when he or she is born. That’s how fairness in my society starts. You have all what a baby needs.” (Feels a sleeping bag) “My good this is smooth.” (Shows a baby’s beanie to the camera) “In Finland you need this as well.”

“Doesn’t matter what your background is, everyone has this (the maternity package) so the child gets a decent start. This decision to start giving these maternity packages was made in 1937, the year I was born. I come from a fairly modest background, but I never felt that I didn’t have a chance in my society.”

“It’s never too expensive to give a chance for decent beginning for everyone, and I think it would be good if we would introduce this sort of egalitarian principles all over the world. That is what fairness means to me.”