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12.6.2026 | In its meeting on Friday 12 June, the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs discussed the Commission’s AccelerateEU communication, which contains measures to respond to peaks in the prices of imported fossil fuels caused by the situation in the Middle East. The ministerial committee also discussed the EU’s human rights sanctions, the post-2030 climate architecture, the CSAM regulation and the annual report on the measures taken by Finland in EU litigation.

MSC 108/20/Add.1 Annex 12, page 1 I:\MSC\108\MSC 108-20-Add.1.docx ANNEX 12 RESOLUTION MSC.560(108) (adopted on 23 May 2024) AMENDMENTS TO PART A OF THE SEAFARERS' TRAINING, CERTIFICATION AND WATCHKEEPING (STCW) CODE THE MARITIME SAFETY COMMITTEE,...

3.12.2025 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has published the Non-Violent Childhoods Action Plan for 2026–2033 aimed at preventing all forms of violence against children. The plan, which will be implemented at the government level, is based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Lanzarote Convention and national statutes that require all forms of violence against children to be combated.

29.8.2025 | In its meeting on Friday 29 August, the Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs outlined Finland’s positions on the regulation aimed at preventing and combating sexual violence against children and on the European Climate Law.

8.12.2025 | This year, the International Gender Equality Prize was awarded to Masha Foundation , a Ukrainian public organisation which carries out significant work to help Ukrainian women overcome the psychological consequences of war and other violence.

6.3.2026 | The 70th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) will take place in New York from 9 to 19 March 2026. Finland will be represented at the session by a broad-based delegation led by Minister Sanni Grahn-Laasonen, who is responsible for gender equality issues.

6.10.2023 | How to turn pain into power? Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Fida co-organised a webinar where Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr. Denis Mukwege talked about his work helping survivors of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

3.11.2025 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is requesting comments on a draft new act on healthcare and social welfare units that assist in investigating suspected offences involving children. The aim is to make the child-friendly Barnahus model a permanent part of the investigation of suspected offences involving children. Comments can be submitted between 3 November and 15 December.

27.11.2024 | The Nordic ministers responsible for gender equality and LGBTI issues met in Stockholm today on 27 November 2024. The meeting discussed, among other things, how gender equality and human rights are weakening globally. Finland was represented at the meeting by Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen.

19.12.2024 | Mediation in domestic violence cases will be discontinued from the beginning of 2025. In future, domestic violence cases can be mediated only when they concern petty offences committed by minors against their parents or other custodians or their relatives.

23.9.2024 | The Government proposes that, in future, mediation offices could not use mediation to resolve criminal offences involving violence or certain other offences against the suspect’s family member or other close person.

22.11.2024 | November 25 is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, as designated by the United Nations (UN). Violence against women is also a significant problem in Finland, and solving this problem is everyone’s responsibility. The Government Palace and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ main building, Merikasarmi, will be illuminated in orange as part of the international campaign.

7.10.2025 | The Nordic ministers responsible for gender equality and LGBTI will meet in Hämeenlinna on 7 October. The meeting will be chaired by Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen.

17.9.2025 | Finland has assumed the Chairpersonship of the Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Finland’s Chairpersonship officially began at an opening session in Vienna on 17 September.

25.9.2025 | At the meeting of the Permanent Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on 25 September, the Moscow Mechanism mission of experts presented their report on violations of international humanitarian and human rights law related to the treatment of Ukrainian soldiers and prisoners of war (POWs) in Russia’s war of aggression. The report examines Russia’s systematic torture, ill-treatment and execution of Ukrainian soldiers and POWs.

29.8.2025 | Public trust in the police has remained stable for a long time. Of those who responded to the latest Police Barometer survey, 92 per cent trust the police a lot or a fair amount. Respectful treatment of people by the police and fair police activities affect people’s trust.

4.4.2024 | The UN Human Rights Council adopted the resolution Combating Discrimination, Violence, and Harmful Practices against Intersex Persons on 4 April. The resolution was presented by Finland together with Australia, Chile and South Africa. Several states across the world also supported the resolution.

22.7.2025 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo presented Finland’s third Voluntary National Review at the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York on Tuesday 22 July. Speech to be checked against delivery.

7.3.2025 | The promotion of gender equality, women’s rights and the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) people is facing strong opposition around the world. The situation causes concern, but Finland’s policy is clear: we defend gender equality and continue to work towards achieving equality between women, men and people belonging to gender minorities together with the other Nordic countries, civil society and our other partners.

6.2.2025 | The Government adopted a resolution on the Government Action Plan for Gender Equality 2024–2027 at its session on 6 february 2025. The Action Plan contains 50 measures, and it has a strong emphasis on the prevention of violence against women. The Action Plan is based on the Programme of Prime Minister Orpo’s Government.