Promoting equality
On 31 August 2023, the Government issued a statement to Parliament on promoting equality, gender equality and non-discrimination in Finnish society. The statement contains a variety of measures aiming to promote equality and combat racism. Many of them are based on the Government Programme, but the statement also includes several new measures.
The Government has set up a project to oversee the implementation of the measures. Its term will run from 16 November 2023 to 31 March 2027. A knowledge base on discrimination and racism is also being compiled to support the implementation. The measures outlined in the statement are being planned and implemented in several ministries. Many of the measures will continue for the duration of the government term.
A political steering group consisting of State Secretaries has been appointed for the project. Its members are
- Risto Artjoki, Prime Minister’s Office
- Riikka Slunga-Poutsalo, Ministry of Finance
- Mikaela Nylander, Ministry of Education and Culture, and
- Päivi Nerg, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
All ministries are part of the project’s cross-administrative working group. The project’s secretariat operates within the Prime Minister’s Office and works closely with the Ministry of Justice, which is the government body responsible for promoting equality.
The project will engage in active stakeholder cooperation during its term and has a budget of EUR 6 million.
Government measures based on the statement
The Government is preparing to continue the Equal Finland action plan, implemented in 2021–23, based on the Government Programme. The Prime Minister and the Prime Minister’s Office will lead the preparation of the plan and the coordination and monitoring of its measures. The Government will allocate sufficient resources to the measures within the spending limits in the government budget session.
The Government will take into account the EU Anti-racism Action Plan 2020–2025 when drawing up its plan. The Government will assess the situation and the need for further measures in its mid-term policy review session in 2025. The continuing work under the plan will be carried out in a way that encourages broad participation and will make use of the consultations carried out when preparing this statement. The continuation of the action plan will include, among others, the measures listed below.
- The Prime Minister’s Office will bring together anti-discrimination expertise. The aim is to improve the effectiveness of cooperation between public authorities and other parties promoting non-discrimination. The knowledge base on non-discrimination and racism will be improved.
- The Government will launch an annual roundtable discussion led by the Prime Minister on promoting equality and non-discrimination.
- The Prime Minister’s Office will launch an anti-racism campaign in cooperation with labour market, sports, cultural and civil society organisations.
- Efforts to ensure good relations between population groups will continue through the work of the Advisory Board for Ethnic Relations (ETNO) and regional advisory boards.
- The Government will improve dialogue with civil society organisations. This work will include preparing a strategy on civil society organisations and a plan for its implementation.
- The Government will effectively combat practices that incite discrimination, persecution, hate or violence against individuals or groups based on ethnic origin, nationality, religion or other similar characteristics.
- Honour-based violence will be identified and combated as set out in the Government Programme.
- The systematic harassment and persecution of public officials, judges and other public figures will be prevented and sufficient support for victims of such actions will be ensured. For example, this could involve measures by employers if a person is targeted by harassment and persecution due to their office or position.
- The Government will strengthen preventive police work and will expand and improve the effectiveness of the current multi-professional early intervention model (the Anchor model). The Government will take measures to reduce juvenile and gang crime, to be further specified as the work progresses.
- As part of a cross-administrative action plan for gender equality, the Government will launch an equality and gender equality programme covering the entire education system in 2024–2025. The programme will support educational institutions in the practical implementation of their current equality and gender equality plans as part of the day-to-day activities of early childhood education and care and educational institutions.
- As stated in the Government Programme, the Government will raise the participation rate of children with immigrant backgrounds in early childhood education and care, as this supports the integration and language learning of the entire family. The level of appropriations for equality funding to be used in early childhood education and care and basic education will be put on a permanent footing.
- The Government will support the realisation of equality, non-discrimination, gender equality and human rights through measures in the field of culture, sports, physical activity and youth policy. The Government will focus on increasing participation among young people with immigrant backgrounds, young people with disabilities and young people belonging to other minority groups. As stated in the Government Programme, the Government will broaden and entrench the ‘You are not alone’ service.
The Government Programme includes numerous entries relating to work. The Government’s policy is for people to integrate into Finnish society through work.
- The Government will cooperate with labour market organisations to promote non-discrimination, diversity and equal opportunities at work. Action will be taken to ensure that equal opportunities are a reality. Services that combat recruiting discrimination and develop diversity management will be incorporated into business services.
- The transition of immigrant women into the labour market will be promoted through measures that reduce gender and ethnic stereotypes at work and in career guidance and that promote equality in families.
- The ability of organisations to support the workplace wellbeing of employees facing discrimination and racism will be improved by directing support to them and making use of online and other training for professionals.
- The work of the Sami Truth and Reconciliation Commission will continue in accordance with the Government Programme until the end of 2025. The work of the commission of people who are deaf or use sign language will be carried out. The Government submitted to Parliament its proposal concerning the Act on the Sami Parliament in December 2023.
- The Government Programme states that, in order to prevent the exploitation of employees, the punishments for abuse will be made more severe and supervision will be improved.
- Acts motivated by hate against Jews, Muslims, Christians and other religious groups will be prevented. Holocaust denial will be criminalised. International Holocaust Remembrance Day will be observed in accordance with international practices. The possibility of criminalising the use of at least Nazi and communist symbols to promote ideology will be investigated.
The Government will intensify its efforts to promote equality, gender equality and non-discrimination and to intensify the monitoring of measures taken.
- The Government will conduct an annual review of the decisions, conclusions and recommendations issued to Finland by international human rights monitoring bodies and decide on measures to be taken.
- In international contexts, Finland will continue its long-term human rights policy of promoting and defending the rights of women, girls, people with disabilities, indigenous peoples, gender and sexual minorities, and other people in particularly vulnerable positions. In the EU, Finland will continue the above-mentioned policy of promoting gender equality, including the right to self-determination (SRHR), and matters concerning sexual and gender minorities.
- The equality, gender equality and non-discrimination competence of personnel in the education, healthcare and welfare sectors will be improved.
- Equality and gender equality training will be used to increase awareness among political leadership and senior public officials. Equality and gender equality will be promoted through the performance guidance of the ministries.
- As an employer, the Government will pay particular attention to equal opportunities and diversity, for example, in recruiting and job advertisements. The aim is to create equal jobseeking opportunities for people belonging to minority groups. The knowledge produced by anonymous recruiting trials will be put to use in accordance with the Government Programme.
Contact information
Katriina Nousiainen, Chief Specialist
Prime Minister's Office, Government Strategy Department, Policy Planning Unit Telephone:0295160735 Email Address: [email protected]
Sanna Malkki, Senior Specialist
Prime Minister's Office, Government Strategy Department, Policy Planning Unit Telephone:0295160312 Email Address: [email protected]
Risto Alatarvas, Senior Specialist
Prime Minister's Office, Government Strategy Department, Policy Planning Unit Telephone:0295160024 Email Address: [email protected]
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