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18.6.2025 | Today, the Government appointed the Advisory Board for Ethnic Relations (ETNO) for the next four-year term 2025–2029.

15.3.2022 | The secretariat of the Advisory Board for Ethnic Relations has been contacted a number of times regarding hate speech and harassment directed towards Russian speakers living in Finland. The Advisory Board condemns all racism, hate speech and other harassment against people of Russian origin, Russian speakers and people from the former Soviet Union in Finland. Adults are responsible for ensuring that there is zero tolerance for intimidation and bullying against children and young people.

11.3.2025 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo invited representatives from Finland’s six largest cities (Helsinki, Espoo, Tampere, Vantaa, Oulu and Turku), immigrant organisations, religious communities and public officials to explore ways to promote good relations between population groups in Finland. The event was organised in cooperation with the City of Vantaa on 11 March.

5.5.2021 | The Advisory Board for Ethnic Relations (ETNO) has published election materials in seven languages to raise awareness of municipal elections in Finland. These visual materials will be used to encourage multilingual municipal residents to participate in decision-making and vote in the forthcoming municipal elections.

19.9.2022 | World leaders are meeting again in the high-level week of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York. The week is an opportunity for Finland to reinforce partnerships, to emphasise the significance of the UN and multilateral cooperation in addressing global problems and to highlight themes that are important for Finland’s foreign and security policy.

25.8.2026 | The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) welcomes several reforms implemented in Finland, highlighting the reform of the Act on the Sámi Parliament, the adoption of several national action plans and the discussion of international human rights recommendations and decisions. At the same time, the Committee makes recommendations to Finland on issues including combating rac...

13.2.2026 | An interim report has been published on the project implementing the Government’s Equality Statement. The report brings together information on the project’s progress between 2023 and 2026. According to the report, the work has already led to legislative reforms and increased concrete anti‑racism measures across different sectors.

22.6.2021 |  A glossary on integration, published by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, harmonises the use of concepts related to integration, equality and discrimination. The new glossary emphasises equality and immigrants’ active role.  Instead of kotouttaminen, the glossary recommends the use of kotoutumisen edistäminen.

5.2.2026 | According to the Government Programme, Finland’s annual refugee quota is 500 persons. In its plenary session on 5 February, the Government decided on which refugee groups would be included in this year’s quota and how many places would be reserved for each group.

18.12.2024 | The Prime Minister's Office organised the first national anti-racism forum for civil society organisations on Friday 13 December at Paasitorni in Helsinki. The event, which is part of the Government’s action plan for combating racism and promoting equality, brought together some 170 professionals from across Finland who are working to combat racism.

28.5.2025 | The Ministry of Education and Culture has prepared a programme to advocate equity and non-discrimination in early childhood education and care, in schools and in educational institutions. The measures will be carried out over the 2025 to 2027 period.

11.7.2023 | Finland promotes the implementation of democracy, the rule of law, and the fundamental and human rights. A society built on trust and good relations between population groups arises from the fact that everyone in Finland can trust that their rights and the principles of gender equality, equality before the law and non-discrimination will be respected and that they will be able to improve their own lives.

18.7.2023 | On 17 July 2023, the Government appointed a working group to prepare a Government communication on promoting equality and non-discrimination in Finnish society. The working group was appointed for the period from 17 July 2023 to 31 August 2023.

15.6.2022 | The voice of immigrants and multilingual Finns is not being heard in decision-making and public debate. A report published today by the Advisory Board for Ethnic Relations (ETNO) examines what kind of barriers to participation and exerting influence in society there are among immigrants and multilingual Finns and presents solutions for removing them.

31.8.2023 | On 31 August, the Government adopted a statement to Parliament on measures to promote equality, gender equality and non-discrimination in Finnish society.

31.8.2023 | On 31 August, the Government adopted a statement to Parliament on measures to promote equality, gender equality and non-discrimination in Finnish society.

18.3.2024 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and representatives of key immigrant organisations, human rights organisations, municipalities, businesses and labour market organisations met on 18 March to discuss concrete measures to ensure equality in a diversifying Finland.

14.10.2024 | The Government discussed the recommendations, decisions and conclusions issued to Finland by the international human rights monitoring bodies on 3 October. The discussion was held as part of the implementation of the Government's equality statement. Based on the discussion, the State Secretaries of the parties in Government decided on further measures related to the recommendations.

16.9.2022 | The high-level meetings of the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 77) will start in New York on Monday 19 September. Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto and Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari will attend ministerial events in New York and have bilateral meetings with their counterparts and with representatives of the UN. Minister Skinnari also has Team Finland programme.

6.9.2023 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo gave a presentation speech to Parliament on the government statement on promoting equality, gender equality and non-discrimination on 6 September 2023. Speech to be checked against delivery.