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Promoting equality Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Government is committed to promoting equality, gender equality and non-discrimination in Finnish society. Action plan for combating racism brings together means to build a more equal Finland The gov...

25.5.2026 | Some 17,000 children and young people shared their views on issues such as safety and security, trust and wellbeing in a pilot project aimed at strengthening the inclusion of children and young people in society and taking into account their perspectives in preparation work at the state level.

13.5.2026 | A clear majority of people in Finland considers humanitarian aid an important and effective form of development cooperation. In a recent survey, more than 90 per cent of the respondents agreed that humanitarian aid for Ukraine is important. The public opinion poll, commissioned from Taloustutkimus by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, shows that views on development cooperation continue to be split by gender and along party lines.

16.4.2026 | Minister of Employment Matias Marttinen has been invited to join the Young Global Leaders network of the World Economic Forum (WEF). Young Global Leaders is a collaborative community of exceptional young leaders from politics, research, business and other sectors. Through its development programme, influential persons under the age of 40 receive tailored leadership training in cooperation with world-class universities.

19.5.2026 | Opening speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen at the LDC Future Forum in Helsinki on 19 May 2026.

18.3.2025 | Differences and disparities related to origin and ethnicity are strongly visible in various areas of children’s and young people’s lives, such as education, working life, health, wellbeing, inclusion, family life and safety. This is evident from a study by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) on the realisation of ethnic equality among people under 30 years of age in Finland.

26.1.2026 | The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment appointed a working group to prepare a programme to prevent segregation. The working group will identify measures to reduce segregation. The programme is due to be completed by the end of 2026.

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.

Progress of the government action plan to combat racism The government action plan to combat racism and promote equality implements the policies set out in the equality statement issued by the Government. The selected measures are based on an asse...

5.9.2024 | On 5 September, the Government adopted a resolution on an action plan for combating racism and promoting equality. The action plan elaborates on the statement on promoting equality, gender equality and non-discrimination in Finnish society, which the Government submitted to Parliament on 31 August 2023.

27.8.2024 | The campaign against racism, carried out as part of the Government’s statement on promoting equality, gender equality and non-discrimination, invites all communities, companies, associations and organisations to build an equitable Finland free of racism through concrete measures.

25.11.2021 | Programme-based support for Finnish civil society organisations (CSOs) is allocated for the implementation of Finland’s development policy objectives to eradicate extreme poverty, reduce inequality and promote human rights. The work is carried out in close cooperation with developing countries’ own CSOs. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has granted approximately EUR 276 million for Finnish CSO’s multiannual development cooperation in 2022–2025.

7.3.2025 | The 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) will take place in New York between 10 and 21 March 2025. Finland will be represented at the session by a broad-based delegation headed by Minister Sanni Grahn-Laasonen.

13.6.2025 | The recipients of the 2025 State Award for Public Information have two things in common: they give a voice to those often left unheard and they challenge the status quo. Their work invites us to look at the world with curiosity, empathy and a critical eye.

17.5.2021 | The Foreign Ministry’s campaign is part of the global Generation Equality initiative. Finland is one of the co-leaders of the Action Coalition that is responsible for Technology and Innovation for Gender Equality. As a country that is known for gender equality and technological expertise, Finland can set an example in promoting equality in the tech sector.

8.3.2024 | The 68th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) will take place in New York between 11 and 22 March 2024. Finland will be represented at the session by a broad-based delegation headed by Minister Sanni Grahn-Laasonen, who is responsible for gender equality issues.

30.10.2023 | UN Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Kirsi Madi as Assistant Secretary-General, responsible for leading the Resource Management, Sustainability and Partnerships of UN Women.

19.9.2023 | The high-level week of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in New York includes high-level meetings on pandemics and universal health coverage. State Secretary Laura Rissanen will represent Finland at these meetings. 

22.8.2023 | Changes in working life challenge OSH enforcement. In addition to the prevention of accidents, occupational diseases and other health hazards caused by work, OSH enforcement plays an increasingly important role in ensuring a fair working life.

29.1.2024 | A recent report compares Finns’ state of health and Finnish health services with other EU states and Nordic countries. Released by the European Commission, focus areas of the report include the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic and mental health. Although Finland does well in many respects, there are challenges especially in the availability of health services.