Helvi Sipilä

Finnish politician, lawyer and diplomat (1915-2009) · Finland · On the map · Politicians · Died at 94

Helvi Linnea Aleksandra Sipilä was a Finnish diplomat, lawyer and politician. She was known as a promoter of women's rights, and was the first-ever female Assistant-Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Helvi Sipilä is read about 6 times a day, in 16 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 10 July 2026

The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 60 days, one point a day.

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A life in dates

2009Died15 May 20091989Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion of FinlandAward1977Commander of the Order of the White Rose of FinlandAward1958Knight of the 1st Class of the Order of the DannebrogAward1956Order of Merit of Duarte, Sanchez and MellaAward1954Knight First Class of the Order of the White Rose of FinlandAward1915Born5 May 1915

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Awards

Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion of Finland1989

Commander of the Order of the White Rose of Finland1977

Knight of the 1st Class of the Order of the Dannebrog1958

Order of Merit of Duarte, Sanchez and Mella1956

Knight First Class of the Order of the White Rose of Finland1954

Memorial medal of the Winter War

Memorial medal of the Continuation War

Medal of Merit of the Civil Defence

Medal for Military Merits

About this person

When Sipilä was appointed Assistant-Secretary-General in 1972, 97 per cent of United Nations senior management was male. Sipilä also held a number of leadership positions in international civic organizations, including in the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, the International Federation of Women Lawyers, Zonta International and the International Council of Women.

Country

Finland