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3.9.2025 | The United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has considered the initial report of Finland on its implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. A public hearing of the Finnish delegation was held in connection with the consideration in Geneva. The Committee published its concluding observations and recommendations on 3 September.

11.6.2025 | The Nordic ministers for health and social affairs and the Nordic and Baltic ministers for digitalisation have issued a joint declaration on artificial intelligence (AI) and the rights of persons with disabilities. 

10.12.2024 | The third National Action Plan on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was published today. The Action Plan sets out the measures to promote the implementation of the Convention in different administrative branches in 2024–2027. 

14.6.2022 | On 14–16 June 2022, Finland will serve for the second time in succession as president of the session of the Conference of States Parties (COSP) to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Representatives from more than 180 countries are expected to attend the conference in New York. A large number of representatives of civil society organisations and UN agencies, dedicated to promoting the rights of persons with disabilities, will also attend the conference.

27.11.2023 | The EU employment and social affairs ministers will meet in Brussels on 27–28 November to discuss, among other things, the European disability card. Other topics on the agenda include green collective bargaining, the EU action plan against racism, and social investment. Minister of Social Affairs and Health Kaisa Juuso will represent Finland at the meeting. 

14.6.2021 | Finland will chair the session of the Conference of States Parties (COSP) to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) on 15–17 June 2021. Representatives from more than 180 countries are expected to attend the Conference, which will be held both virtually and at the UN headquarters in New York. A large number of representatives of civil society organisations and UN agenci...

11.2.2021 | Finland has published the second National Action Plan on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Action Plan will implement the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which entered into force in summer 2016 . 

6.6.2026 | Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will visit New York on 7–9 June and launch Finland’s campaign for a seat on the UN Security Council on 8 June. Minister Valtonen will also deliver a speech at the UN Security Council’s Ukraine session and lead the Finnish delegation to the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on 9 June.

2.7.2021 | In spring 2021, the European Commission published a Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities for the period 2021–2030. The Strategy aims to ensure the full participation of persons with disabilities in society. The key principles of the Strategy are equality and non-discrimination.

31.8.2021 | As part of Finland's Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers, a webinar will be held from 31 August to 1 September that will focus on the rights of indigenous people with disabilities and diseases causing memory loss, and on the provision of linguistically and culturally sensitive services. The webinar seeks to raise awareness of rights, and share experiences to develop services.

2.6.2023 | The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has issued recommendations to Finland on the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the child. The recommendations concern, for example, child welfare, the prevention of violence against children, the rights of children with disabilities, issues related to children's mental health and social security.

14.12.2023 | The Government supports the Commission’s proposal to extend the scope of the proposal for a Directive establishing the European Disability Card and the European Parking Card for persons with disabilities to include third-country nationals who are legally residing in the territory of an EU Member State. Today, the Government submitted a Union communication on the matter to Parliament.

11.11.2022 | Opening statement by Minister Pekka Haavisto at the Fourth Universal Periodic Review of Finland at the UN Human Rights Council on 9 November 2022.

8.3.2021 | Today, on 8 March 2021, the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) issued its recommendations on Finland’s seventh periodic report concerning the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

14.2.2022 | Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will attend the Global Disability Summit in Oslo on 16–17 February. He will announce the Foreign Ministry’s commitments on the promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities at the meeting. The aim of the summit is to intensify the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and thereby to bring about substantial improvements in the lives of persons with disabilities.

21.10.2021 | A state-owned special assignment company named Työkanava Ltd will be established in Finland. Its task is to promote the employment of people with partial work ability who are in the most difficult labour market position. The company would support their skills so that the people could find employment in the open labour market after working at Työkanava.

16.2.2023 | On 16 February 2023, the Government issued three decrees on the accessibility requirements for certain products and services. These decrees will finalise the national implementation of the European Accessibility Act (Directive 2019/882). The decrees will enter into force on 20 February 2023 and they will become applicable on 28 June 2025.

16.2.2023 | On 16 February 2023, the Government issued three decrees on the accessibility requirements for certain products and services. These decrees will finalise the national implementation of the European Accessibility Act (Directive 2019/882). The decrees will enter into force on 20 February 2023 and they will become applicable on 28 June 2025.

8.11.2021 | The Parties to the UN Climate Change Agreement will meet in Glasgow, Great Britain on 31 October–12 November. One of the conference's key themes is adaptation to climate change and its funding, especially in developing countries. The least developed countries and the poorest people suffer the most from the impacts of climate change even though they contribute to it the least.

23.6.2021 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has appointed a working group to prepare the government proposal on the implementation of the EAA in Finland.