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18.4.2024 | The Government proposes legislative amendments to prevent the evasion of provisions on entry more effectively than at present. The amendments would prohibit asylum applicants from switching to a work-based or education-based application procedure in order to apply for a residence permit. The amendments would also tighten the identity verification procedure. The Government submitted the proposal to Parliament on 18 April. The proposed acts would enter into force on 1 July 2024.

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.

4.7.2024 | New legislative amendments will prevent the evasion of provisions on entry more effectively than before. In its session on 4 July, the Government proposed that the President of the Republic approve the amendments to the Aliens Act and the Researchers and Students Act. The President of the Republic is scheduled to approve the amendments on 5 July, and they will enter into force on 1 September 2024.

13.9.2022 | The Rural Village Water Resources Management Project in the Far West regions of Nepal succeeded in improving the rights and livelihoods of women, girls and disadvantaged groups. Development cooperation addressed a number of gender equality issues.

25.11.2021 | Finland and Kenya are cooperating to reduce violence against women and girls in Kenya, where gender-based violence has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. With Finland’s support, Kenya also aims to increase the number of women in leadership positions.

7.3.2022 | Dear audience, ladies and gentlemen

2.12.2021 | The UN estimates that 274 million people will need humanitarian assistance in 2022. The needs are increasing, for example due to the escalation of conflicts in Afghanistan and Ethiopia. Finland will increase its support for the alleviation of human suffering in crisis areas, which is why Finland will raise its funding for humanitarian assistance to EUR 113 million this year.

2.8.2020 | Prime Minister Sanna Marin and her partner Markus Räikkönen got married on Saturday 1 August.

17.5.2023 | Prime Minister Sanna Marin spoke at the New York University commencement in New York City on 17 May 2023.

11.11.2019 | -

12.2.2019 | The EU Regulation on simplifying the requirements for presenting certain public documents in the European Union will become applicable on 16 February 2019. The Regulation aims to reduce formalities and costs related to the acceptance of documents such as marriage and birth certificates.

14.2.2019 | -

25.11.2019 | Monday 25 November is the International Day of the Elimination of Violence against Women. This week, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and its partners will highlight the need to reduce violence against women and children and domestic violence on a number of occasions, including two side events of Finland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

31.5.2021 | Assisting the Prime Minister in directing the Government, the Prime Minister’s Office is also in charge of the Prime Minister’s official residence and its maintenance and support services in accordance with the Government Act and the Government Rules of Procedure. The payment of and remuneration to members of the Government and the grounds for their allowances are established in the Act on Ministers’ Pay and Allowances.

17.4.2020 | Strong support from Finland for UN Population Fund and UN Women Ministry for Foreign Affairs Publication date 17.4.2020 9.44 Type: Press release Finland will step up its support for the work of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and UN Wom...

19.4.2021 | Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade of Finland Ville Skinnari delivered the statement on behalf of the governments and peoples of 81 countries.

12.6.2025 | The Government will tighten conditions for family reunification, in other words residence permits issued to foreign nationals on the basis of family ties. In its session on 12 June, the Government proposed that the President of the Republic approve the relevant amendments to the Aliens Act on 13 June. The amendments will enter into force on 16 June.

6.3.2025 | The Government is tightening the conditions for family reunification. In line with the Government Programme, the Government proposes that Finland should introduce the additional conditions permitted by the EU Family Reunification Directive concerning the spouses' minimum age, ability to provide for their own needs and the time they have stayed in the country. The Government submitted a proposal on the matter to Parliament on 6 March.

16.6.2023 | The UN Human Rights Council convenes for its 53rd Regular Session from 19 June to 14 July in Geneva, Switzerland.

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.