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21.10.2021 | The Government proposes an amendment to the Non-Military Service Act to clarify the status of persons who have refused non-military service and have received a sentence. Those who have been acquitted by a court would no longer be ordered back into service during peacetime.

27.6.2023 | The United Nations Human Rights Council will hold its second regular session of this year from 19 June to 14 July. Before each session, as part of Finland’s contribution to the work of the Human Rights Council, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs asks civil society organisations for their views on Finland's priorities and objectives. Many civil society representatives again gathered at Merikasarmi, Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

17.1.2022 | There is great demand for Finnish expertise in the field of the rule of law around the world. The Rule of Law Centre, established jointly by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the University of Helsinki, supports the implementation of democracy, the rule of law and human rights in developing countries.

13.4.2022 | The legal aid e-services will be reformed in the beginning of May. The introduction of a new platform will improve the usability and information security of the e-services.

2.2.2024 | The EU Foreign Ministers will convene for an informal Gymnich meeting in Brussels on 2–3 February. The Ministers will discuss the relations between the EU and Africa and EU-Türkiye relations. Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will represent Finland at the meeting.

17.4.2024 | In its meeting on Wednesday 17 April, the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs outlined Finland’s positions for the special European Council to be held in Brussels on 17 and 18 April. Items on the agenda for the meeting include the ongoing events in the Middle East and Ukraine, relations with Türkiye and Europe’s long-term competitiveness.

28.3.2025 | The EU sanctions list includes members of the Belarusian Central Electoral Commission, representatives of the Belarusian judiciary and individuals or entities that are considered to have committed serious human rights violations and undermined democracy in Belarus. The EU Member States approved the additional sanctions on 27 March 2025.

15.1.2026 | Today the Government decided in its plenary session to submit to Parliament the Government Report on the Application of Language Legislation in 2025. The report provides important monitoring data on the current state of Finland’s national languages and other indigenous languages and on the realisation of linguistic rights.