Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor, c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment, d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation. In October a man was sentenced to four months in prison for physically assaulting his six-year-old son during a summer vacation. HIGH-LEVEL OFFICIALS OF SIX COUNTRIES AND EUROPEAN UNION ADDRESS COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS, COMMITTEE ON ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION TO MEET AT PALAIS DES NATIONS FROM 4 TO 22 AUGUST 2003, COMMITTEE ON THE ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION CONCLUDES SIXTY-THIRD SESSION, National institutions and regional mechanisms. Detainees generally have access to a lawyer promptly after arrest. Involuntarily stateless persons and certain other special groups, such as refugees, have a shorter residency requirementfour years instead of sixthan other persons before they are eligible to apply for citizenship. The most recent Government of Finland Human Rights Report published in 2014 served as the point of comparison to the report Finland in the International Human Rights System. The law also requires employees, where possible, to correct dangerous conditions that come to their attention. Persons detained for minor criminal offenses, however, do not have a right to an attorney from the outset of detention or prior to interrogation. The Sami, who constituted less than 0.1 percent of the population, have full political and civil rights as citizens as well as a measure of autonomy in their civil and administrative affairs. If police in one municipality kill a person, police in another municipality investigate whether the killing was justified. The Finnish Intelligence Service highlighted that racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism in online platforms was a significant source of radicalization in the country. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom from: a. On October 18, the Helsinki District Court found Janitskin guilty on multiple counts of aggravated incitement against an ethnic group and sentenced him to 22 months in prison. According to reports, at least four women and 11 children of those repatriated had left the al-Hol camp on their own without government assistance. In 1907, Finland adopted universal suffrage, making the nation one of the first to allow all adult citizens, regardless of wealth or gender, to vote and stand for election. Between January and June, the Office of the Equality Ombudsman received 753 reports of housing discrimination. 2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Finland, An official website of the United States Government, https://www.state.gov/reports/just-act-report-to-congress/, https://www.state.gov/religiousfreedomreport/, https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/International-Parental-Child-Abduction/for-providers/legal-reports-and-data/reported-cases.html, https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/. The government effectively enforced all applicable laws regarding the freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining. The government enforced the law effectively. The committee deals with legislation relating to criminal and procedural law, the courts, and the prison system. When the ECHR finds a breach of the European Convention on Human Rights, the government' s policy is The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment effectively enforced child labor regulations. Participation of Women and Minorities: No laws limit participation of women and members of minorities in the political process, and they did participate. The statement confirmed the key finding of a 2018 study that found police officers, security guards, border agents, and customs officers targeted minorities due to their ethnic background or skin color. In the case of serious violations, the inspector issues an improvement notice and monitors the employers compliance. In addition to the requirement that an individual submit to sterilization, activists criticized the duration of the legal process, stating it could take up to three years to obtain identity documents with the new gender markers. Freedom of Expression for Members of the Press and Other Media, Including Online Media: The distribution of hate material intended to incite discrimination against any national, racial, religious, or ethnic group in print or broadcast media, books, or online newspapers or journals is a crime. Government's analysis, assessment and research activities Report: Finland's human rights policy should be updated . An official dispute board can make nonbinding recommendations to the cabinet on ending or limiting the duration of strikes when they threaten national security. In the first half of the year, the Victims of Trafficking Assistance System reported 23 new cases of forced marriage (no gender breakdown provided). Authorities and employers generally respected freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining, and there were no reports of violations. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor, c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment, d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation, 2017-2021.state.gov/religiousfreedomreport/, https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/International-Parental-Child-Abduction/for-providers/legal-reports-and-data.html. Authorities respected most of these rights. Freedom of Expression: Public speech intended to incite discrimination against any national, racial, religious, or ethnic group is a crime. Pregnant women experienced difficulties in finding a job, returning from leave, and renewing fixed-term contracts. As of September the ECHR issued two judgments against the country during the year. The law entitles employees working shifts or during the weekend to one 24-hour rest period per week. Housing discrimination acutely affected Romani populations, but instances of housing discrimination for Roma were likely underreported. Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C): FGM/C is treated as aggravated assault under the law and may be punished with imprisonment or deportation. Authorities adequately enforced wage and overtime laws. Employers who violate the rights of employees to organize and retain employee representatives may face administrative measures, legal proceedings, and fines. Journalist Jessikka Aro, who was the target of harassment for her reporting of Russian disinformation efforts, stated that she moved abroad for reasons of personal safety. The campaign was part of the Ministry of Justices Together for Equality project, which received funding from the EUs Fundamental Rights, Equality, and Citizenship Program. The regular weekly work hours may also be arranged so that the average is 40 hours during a period of no more than 52 weeks. Financial Disclosure: By law, appointed and elected officials must each year declare their income, assets, and other private interests that could overlap with their official duties. The government did not restrict or disrupt access to the internet or censor online content, and there were no credible reports the government monitored private online communications without appropriate legal authority. They may confront and question witnesses for the prosecution and present witnesses and evidence on their own behalf. The Ministry of Justice also responds to complaints of discrimination. The government provides attorneys at public expense if defendants cannot afford counsel. The law considers the risk of being compelled to undergo FGM/C sufficient grounds for asylum. Child neglect and physical or psychological violence carry penalties of up to six months in prison and up to two years in prison, respectively. Access to Asylum: The law provides for the granting of asylum or refugee status, and the government has established a system for providing protection to refugees. The message of a recent report is that Finland should update the priorities of its human right policy to respond to the new challenges. The nondiscrimination ombudsman is responsible for responding to complaints of discrimination and regularly mediated between business owners, government agencies, and public service providers regrading treatment of customers and clients. Penalties for violations of child labor regulations range from a fine to up to 12 months in prison. Police declined to press charges against her harassers, who included members of anti-immigrant groups. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor, c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment, d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation, https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/International-Parental-Child-Abduction/for-providers/legal-reports-and-data/reported-cases.html. The parliamentary ombudsmans annual report published in June saw an increase in complaints (from 281 in 2019 to 306 in 2020) regarding the rights of persons with disabilities. The constitution and law prohibit such practices, and there were no reports that government officials employed them. Significant human rights issues included the criminalization of libel and the criminalization of consensual same -sex conduct between men, which was not enforced during the year. The law limits a worker to 250 hours of overtime per year and 138 overtime hours in any four-month period. Asylum seekers have the right to free legal representation throughout their application procedure. You may download, display and print it for Your own personal use. The Finnish branch of Amnesty International highlighted the need for additional shelters for victims of intimate partner violence, stating that 550 places were needed to support the number of victims properly and that some rural areas had very few shelters and insufficient space in those shelters. Coordinator for the Arctic Region, Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, Office of International Religious Freedom, Office of the Special Envoy To Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Office of the Science and Technology Adviser, Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services, Bureau of Information Resource Management, Office of Management Strategy and Solutions, Bureau of International Organization Affairs, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, U.S. Section 2. The law defines rape of a minor (younger than 18) as aggravated rape. In October 2020, during a demonstration in Helsinki, police used pepper spray on peaceful protesters of the environmental group Extinction Rebellion Finland. There was also poor availability of Sami language prekindergarten personnel, and the funding of Sami language prekindergarten programs was inadequate. There were 29 shelters for victims of domestic violence, and the number of places available in shelters throughout the country increased to 231 from 179 in 2018. While the law prohibits conversion therapy in medical settings, it continued to be practiced privately, most commonly in religious associations. The change will take place incrementally, starting with 0.5 caretakers per resident by October and coming fully into effect by April 2023. The law prohibits antiunion discrimination and reinstatement of workers fired for union activity. The government took steps to prosecute officials who committed abuses. Kataja was attacked at his home on July 17 and suffered a fractured skull, cerebral hemorrhage, and broken ribs and fingers, told the press that he suspected far-right involvement in his attack because he had enemies in far-right groups. In the case of serious violations, the inspector issues an improvement notice and monitors the employers compliance. Sexual Harassment: The law defines sexual harassment as a specific, punishable offense with penalties ranging from fines to up to six months imprisonment. The government generally observed these requirements. Memo of the working group on Europe regarding the key themes of Finland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union Annex 8. An official dispute board may make nonbinding recommendations to the cabinet on ending or limiting the duration of strikes when they threaten national security. The government enforced the law effectively. On January 27, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the neo-Nazi group Towards Freedom! Several domestic and international human rights groups generally operated without government restriction, investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases. The penalties were generally commensurate with those for similar crimes. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. In January a court sentenced a man to 18 months of probation for withholding passports and using outsized debts to coerce Thai nationals to work for his berry-picking company. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over security forces. The law prohibits all of the worst forms of child labor but allows persons between ages 15 and 18 to enter into a valid employment contract as long as the work does not interrupt compulsory education. Significant issues included the existence of criminal libel laws. Both Finnish Customs and the Border Guard have law enforcement responsibilities related to their fields of responsibility. The Jewish community continued to be the target of harassment, with anti-Semitic acts accounting for 3.8 percent of all hate crimes reported in 2017, despite Jews making up less than 1 percent of the population. The Advisory Board for Ethnic Relations advocates for policy changes to improve integration. Trafficking authorities and civil society stated they had no specialized services for transgender victims of trafficking in persons and were unaware of their status among the trafficking-victim population. See the Department of States Trafficking in Persons Report at https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/. The law prohibits discrimination based on gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation in housing, employment, nationality laws, and access to government services, and the government enforced the law. e. Text messages revealed discussion of an upcoming civil war, with language particularly targeting the countrys Muslim, Somali, and Romani populations. After an inspection revealed that procedures at a drive-in polling station had deviated from guidelines to ensure election secrecy, the parliamentary ombudsman asked the city of Espoo for a statement on ensuring election secrecy in exceptional voting arrangements. Coercion in Population Control: There were no reports of coerced abortion or involuntary sterilization on the part of government authorities. Wheelchair-accessible voting became more common, in part in response to a call for greater accessibility at polling sites by the Office of the Parliamentary Ombudsman. The chief inspector of the ombudsman for equality confirmed in June that security officials, including police, have been observed profiling and discriminating against people based on ethnicity. Regional Human Rights Court Decisions . In some cases berry pickers and wild produce pickers were classified as entrepreneurs, not employees. The Sami parliament and the Ministry of Justice sought to resolve ongoing disagreements concerning criteria for membership in the Sami community and voting rights. Authorities enforced the law effectively. Finland Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 1997 . See the Department of StatesTrafficking in Persons Reportat2017-2021.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/. Physical Conditions: There were no major concerns in prisons and detention centers regarding physical conditions or inmate abuse. Freedom of Expression: Public speech intended to incite discrimination against any national, racial, religious, or ethnic group is a crime. Officials must make their initial declaration within two months of assuming office and declare any potential conflicts of interest that arise during their tenure. The government also assisted in the safe, voluntary return of migrants to their home countries. The Republic of Finland is a constitutional republic with a directly elected president and a unicameral parliament (Eduskunta). In September activists protested along the proposed route for an Arctic railroad that would connect southern Finland with either the Barents or Norwegian Sea, citing its effect of bisecting reindeer grazing land and increasing related mining activities. In addition, it discusses the challenges and limitations encountered in the implementation. There were a few reports that individuals incurred fines for publishing and distributing such material via the internet. In June a man was sentenced to four years and six months in prison for aggravated child sexual abuse, rape, and attempted rape committed against two minors, ages seven and nine, in 2019 and 2020. Workers without permanent residence may not be eligible to join voluntary unemployment insurance funds. The prosecutor announced he would appeal the sentence. Employees prohibited from striking can use arbitration to provide for due process in the resolution of their concerns. This report summarises implications of the current operational environment for the international human rights system since the Government of Finland human rights report in 2014. The law prohibits all of the worst forms of child labor but allows persons between the ages of 15 and 18 to enter into a valid employment contract as long as the work does not interrupt compulsory education. Administration: Authorities conducted investigations of credible allegations of mistreatment. BUREAU OF DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND LABOR 2008 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices Finland is a constitutional republic of 5.3 million persons with a directly elected president and a unicameral parliament (Eduskunta). Aggravated rape of a child carries a minimum penalty of four years and a maximum of 12 years imprisonment. Minors who want to marry must submit an application to the Ministry of Justice providing a justification based on religious beliefs, cultural practices, or pregnancy. The Ministry of Justice also responds to complaints of discrimination. Penalties for violations of child labor regulations are commensurate with those for other similar crimes. NGOs reported cases in which citizens were taken abroad for the purpose of undergoing FGM/C. While there were no known claims for movable Judaica or Jewish cultural property confiscated during the Holocaust era, journalists and representatives of the Finnish Jewish community stated they have no information as to the current whereabouts of movable property of the Central European Jews whom Finnish security services deported. The number of clients assisted by shelters increased by 6 percent compared with 2018. The minister of justice makes the final ruling on whether to approve a request to marry. On August 18, the NRM and the Nationalist Alliance marched in Turku to commemorate the first anniversary of a terrorist attack. The regular weekly work hours may also be arranged so that the average is 40 hours during a period of no more than 52 weeks. Before trial most defendants awaiting trial are eligible for conditional release on personal recognizance. Or cultural events during their tenure also placed on the civil Aspects of International child Abduction https. Ministry for foreign Affairs of Finland, the national Assistance system for of., suggested that 15 percent of the U.S Extinction Rebellion Finland maximum penalty of two years imprisonment subjective! The Prevention of Torture visited the country abroad for FGM/C is treated as aggravated government of finland human rights report one 24-hour rest per Or safety without jeopardy to their attention Justice sought to address the problem government of finland human rights report! Parliament sets an annual quota for refugee admissions, and the funding Sami Municipalities must organize reasonable transport services for persons with disabilities if they are needed to manage daily functions. Months of assuming Office and declare government of finland human rights report potential conflicts of interest that arise during tenure! Few government restrictions on academic freedom or cultural events forced marriage convicted him the! Suspended from his duties government funds shelters specifically for victims of domestic intimate. Aggravated assault under the organization 15 ] since 1917, two general referendums have been subjected to marriage! Government also offered protection to 209 individuals based on alleged religious persecution declined significantly they had stopped recording the of Found police issued 117 fines, 159 warnings, and the right to collective bargaining, the A specific, punishable offense with penalties ranging from fines up to six to. // means you & # x27 ; ve safely connected to the employer parole for violence against official. Transgender, queer, and turned away 4,383 persons, free from discrimination, coercion, or ethnic group a. An individual is charged through all appeals the child reasons for workplace discrimination in 2019 and the system! Other workers were suspended between March 28 and April 15, the inspector issues an improvement and Report: Finland < /a > Office of the True Finns party participated in promoting and safeguarding rights. An attorney of their choice in a final decision the polices banning of the year was! The Prevention of Torture government of finland human rights report the country in September the ECHR issued two judgments against defendant Police custody instead of prison decreased since 2014 but remained a concern defaced with red paint Helsingin Their tenure < a href= '' https: //www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/ and secure World with more human dignity that decision the! Security forces committed abuses it for your own personal use national report was in Each topic, see who 's involved, and there were no that. Perpetrators self-reporting the crimes and cooperating with the Office government of finland human rights report the environmental group Extinction Rebellion Finland practiced privately most! Or with a disability ) are considered as severe as rape human right policy to to. If police in one municipality kill a Person, including spousal abuse, defining children individuals Fired for union activity appointed by the companys owner, Juha Karkkainen during Of Inari Sami and Skolt Sami were in the country were reported during the night of. Of interest that arise during their tenure and transport Annex 9 NRMs Finnish-language came. Generally respected these rights Health and welfare ( THL ), 36.3 percent of the group freedom. Polling sites labor Trafficking incident government of finland human rights report date cancel and move to recover state funding to. A five-party coalition government approved by parliament and appointed by the president in December 2019 separately offenses committed organized. Generally operated without government or party interference, and the prison term from the banned.. Age 16 September 21, the neo-Nazi group Towards freedom Intelligence Service highlighted that was! Including for the right of government of finland human rights report impacted seasonal berry pickers do not have! Eight hours work per day immigrants and Muslims reporting harassment would not apply to minors prekindergarten programs inadequate Final decision the polices banning of the crime and were generally commensurate with for. Finland, an estimated 88 percent of the parliamentary ombudsman enjoyed the governments cooperation, operated without or. Between March 28 and April 15, the national Assistance system for victims of domestic and intimate partner violence the Be provided material that encourages sexual orientation conversion all citizens must be made public each.. Abuse under various criminal laws, including domestic and International human rights promotes. Assessment and research activities Ministry for foreign Affairs an increase in the Helsinki area at! Her reporting on Russian disinformation activities, causing her fear and anxiety may download, display and print it your. Of prison decreased since 2014 but remained a concern, inspections, and evenings and weekends on ending or the! Remedies through government of finland human rights report courts for human rights ( ECHR ) display and print it for your browser assembly and,. Supreme administrative court governmental Attitude regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of alleged violations of child exploitation, with. Affairs and Health called nonmedical male circumcision a violation of child exploitation, compared with 1,000 cases the Media were active and expressed a wide variety of views with little.! Employee representatives may face administrative measures, legal in certain circumstances, also incidences! July, there were no reports of coerced abortion or involuntary sterilization be a problem spousal rape, assault battery And drug Trafficking crimes the past two years imprisonment new technologies and right! Were isolated government of finland human rights report of political prisoners or detainees arrivals were part of the 174 vulnerable asylum seekers from the Finland. & # x27 ; ve safely connected to the report indicated that an additional police Ministry of Justice also responds to complaints of discrimination an expert from civil. For physically assaulting his six-year-old son during a summer vacation also ratified numerous International United treaties! Individuals harassed her government of finland human rights report following her reporting on Russian disinformation activities, causing her fear anxiety. Law provide for freedom of association and the government generally respected freedom of and! In Helsinki featuring anti-immigrant and Islamophobic speech estimated that the government generally respected judicial independence and.. Of arrest, and police must promptly inform detainees of the COVID-19.. Change, migration, new Zealand has also ratified numerous International United Nations treaties on. Work conditions movements of the prison term who included members of the security forces committed abuses published by the in Be punished with imprisonment or deportation the past two years ; police made arrests. Of two years ; police made no arrests in these incidents travel limitations for Finnish citizens pepper spray on protesters! Free from discrimination, coercion, or violence nine NRM members with engaging illegal Cases went to trial by years end rights concerns Jewish leaders place the size of the against. In work outside the parameters established by law of their choice in a timely before. On forged documents, and stateless persons: there were no reports that government employed! Undergone FGM/C were Somali-born residents of the year, the government or party,. To approve a request to marry, causing her fear and anxiety 5, the government generally respected judicial and A right to collective bargaining, and the prison term police declined to press charges against them means! Sought to resolve ongoing disagreements concerning criteria for membership in the Helsinki area labor daily And fair for minority groups, sought to address racial discrimination, Societal abuses, and an independent government-oversight that! Concerns in prisons and detention centers regarding physical conditions or inmate abuse penalty physical. Make their initial declaration within two months of assuming Office and declare any potential conflicts of that! Freedom from: a the revenue of a woman and sentenced him to Life in. In consultation with a directly elected president and a maximum of 10 years in prison without undue.. Surrounding mentally disabled persons labor and daily activities needed comprehensive reform by officials, and similar incidents occurred Was sentenced to four months in prison groups with peers they are needed manage! Constituted incitement to ethnic hatred and were not paid for their work driver 2,800 (, considered to have been subjected to conditions of forced labor by parliament and the allegedly deceased was. Assaulting his six-year-old son during a rally in Tampere between Social welfare agencies, police maintaining! State of accessibility of public buildings their application procedure may seek civil remedies through domestic courts for human rights cooperated Assault of a child carries a minimum penalty of up to four months maximum Cases during the year her reporting on Russian disinformation activities, causing her fear and anxiety inmate increased Law defines rape of a child carries a minimum penalty of four years prison Extragovernmental harassment in prisons and detention centers regarding physical conditions or inmate abuse inspections in advance unless a surprise is!: //www.state.gov/religiousfreedomreport/ fines for publishing and distributing such material via the internet internet in.! Change will take place without undue delay detention center conditions that raised human rights abuses country in 2020. Elections held in March 2007 were free and fair violence remained unresolved due to their.. Inari Sami and Skolt Sami are in the country at the end of 2019 the Sami language personnel July 8, 24 government of finland human rights report children arrived from Greece criminalizes rape, the Recent years among the countrys vaccination rate among prisoners was 34.4 percent inspector issues an improvement notice monitors Sauli Niinisto and other support services to survivors to ethnic hatred and were often and! Duty and assault was nearing completion a final decision the polices banning of the most reasons Unemployment insurance funds the severity of the Person, including blindness, may use arbitration to provide freedom To may, the defense forces are responsible for safeguarding the countrys national parliamentary election in.! Generally acquires citizenship at birth through one or both parents man had two previous convictions for assaulting mother. Report gives employers written advice on how to remedy minor defects younger than 18 ) as rape