FINLAND: Children's Rights in UN Treaty Body Reports

Summary: This report extracts mentions of children's rights issues in the reports of all UN Treaty Bodies and their follow-up procedures. This does not include the Concluding Observations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child which are available here: http://www.crin.org/resources/treaties/index.asp

Please note that the language may have been edited in places for the purpose of clarity.

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UN Human Rights Committee

CCPR/C/FIN/CO/6

Last Reported: 12 July 2013                                                                                      Concluding Observations issued: 22 August 2013  

Issues raised and recommendations given:

Detention of asylum-seekers: The Committee reiterates its concern that the Metsälä detention centre, the only detention unit for asylum seekers and irregular migrants in Finland, is frequently overcrowded and many such individuals, including unaccompanied or separated children, pregnant women and persons with disabilities, are placed in police detention facilities for prolonged periods of time. The State party should use alternatives to detaining asylum seekers and irregular migrants whenever possible. The State party should also guarantee that administrative detention for immigration purposes is justified as reasonable, necessary and proportionate in the light of the specific circumstances, and subjected to periodic evaluation and judicial review, in accordance with the requirements of article 9 of the Covenant. The State party should strengthen its efforts to improve living conditions in the Metsälä detention centre. (arts. 9 and 10) (Para. 10)

Juvenile justice: While taking into account the State party’s practice of considering the best interests of the child in assessing the placement of juveniles in detention facilities, the Committee remains concerned that juveniles are not segregated from adult prisoners. Notwithstanding the reservation to article 10, paragraphs 2(b) and 3, of the Covenant, the State party should ensure, as a general rule, that juveniles are segregated from adult prisoners in detention and that they are duly protected from violence and sexual abuse. (Para. 13)

Indigenous peoples: While noting that the State party has committed to ratifying the International Labour Organization Convention No. 169 concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries, and established a working group in August 2012 to strengthen the rights of the Sami to participate in decisions on the use of land and waters, the Committee remains concerned that the Sami people lack participation and decision-making powers over matters of fundamental importance to their culture and way of life, including rights to land and resources. The Committee also notes that there may be insufficient understanding or accommodation of the Sami lifestyle by public authorities and that there is a lack of legal clarity on the use of land in areas traditionally inhabited by the Sami people.

The State party should advance the implementation of the rights of the Sami by strengthening the decision-making powers of Sami representative institutions, such as the Sami parliament. The State party should increase its efforts to revise its legislation to fully guarantee the rights of the Sami people in their traditional land, ensuring respect for the right of Sami communities to engage in free, prior and informed participation in policy and development processes that affect them. The State party should also take appropriate measures to facilitate, to the extent possible, education in their own language for all Sami children in the territory of the State party. (arts. 1, 26 and 27) (Para. 16)

Roma community: While welcoming the efforts made by the State party to eliminate discrimination against the Roma, including the on-going reform of the Finnish equality legislation, the Committee reiterates its concern that Roma still face de facto discrimination and social exclusion in housing, education and employment. The Committee is particularly concerned at continuing reports of the placement of Roma children in special needs classes. The State party should take active measures, including improving legislation, to prevent discrimination against the Roma, in particular regarding their access to education, housing and employment, and allocate additional resources to put into effect all plans to do away with obstacles to the practical exercise by the Roma of the rights provided for under the Covenant. The State party should take immediate steps to eradicate the segregation of Roma children in its education system by ensuring that the placement of children in schools is carried out on an individual basis and is not influenced by the child’s ethnic group. (arts. 26 and 27) (Para. 17)

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(CCPR/CO/82/FIN)

Last reported: 18-19 October 2004
Concluding Observations issued: 27 October 2004

Concerns raised:

Discrimination against Roma. While acknowledging the State party's efforts to enable the Roma minority to preserve its language and culture and to integrate fully into society, the Committee notes with concern that Roma still face discrimination in housing, education, employment and access to public places. The State party should step up its efforts to combat social exclusion and discrimination and and allocate the requisite resources to put into effect all plans to do away with obstacles to the Roma's practical exercise of the rights they enjoy under the Covenant (arts. 26 and 27). (Par. 15)

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UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

E/C.12/FIN/CO/6

Concluding observations on the sixth periodic report

Adopted by the Committee: 12-13 November 2013

Published by the Committee: 28 November 2014

Issues raised:

Ratification:

The Committee welcome the ratification by the State party of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on Sale of Children, Child Pornography and Child Prostitution, on 1 June 2012 (para.4).

Institutionalised children:

The Committee remains concerned about information on the increasing number of children placed in care institutions and at the relatively high proportion among them of children belonging to ethnic minorities  (art. 10).

The Committee recommends that the State party take steps to ensure that family-type care rather than institutional care is offered for children deprived of a family environment and to ensure full protection to families with children belonging to national minorities. In this regard, the Committee recommends that the State party take into account the Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children, annexed to General Assembly resolution 64/142 (para.21).

Disabled children:

While noting the information provided by the delegation on the safeguards to protect the right to sexual and reproductive health of women and girls with intellectual disabilities, the Committee is concerned that in particular cases the decision on sterilisation might be made by the legal representative of the rights holder (art. 12).

The Committee recommends that State party effectively ensure that safeguards to the rights of women and girls with disabilities are adequately protected. It also encourages the State party to develop a model for support in the decision-making process with regard to their right to sexual and reproductive health (para.26).

Education:

The Committee remains concerned about the difficulties faced by children of immigrant background, as well as Roma children in the education system, particularly as regards the persistence of discrimination and bullying, the high number of children in special education and the high dropout rate (arts. 13 and 14).

The Committee urges the State party to redouble its efforts to ensure equal access to inclusive education for all children, including children of immigrant background and Roma children and to intensify its effort to continue to reduce the drop-out rates of children from these groups. The Committee also recommends that the State party systematically collect disaggregated data on bullying in schools, strengthen the measures adopted to combat this phenomenon, and assess the effectiveness of such measures (para.28).

 

(E/C.12/FIN/CO/5)

Last reported: 7 May 2007
Concluding Observations adopted: 18 May 2007

Concerns raised:

  • Substance abuse/ mental health: The Committee is concerned about the increase in alcohol and drug abuse, as well as about the high incidence of mental health disorders in the State party, especially among young persons (Para. 18)

    The Committee recommends that the State party intensify its efforts aimed at preventing alcohol and drug abuse, as well as at addressing the root causes of mental health disorders among the population of the State party. The Committee requests that the State party provide in its next periodic report detailed information on progress made in improving mental health of the population in the State party, reducing the incidence of alcohol and drug abuse, and promoting a healthy lifestyle among young persons. (Para. 27)

  • Access to education for Roma children. The Committee notes with concern the high dropout rate of Roma children, and in particular of Roma girls, despite the efforts undertaken by the State party to improve access to education of Roma children. The Committee is deeply concerned that according to reports received, Roma children tend to be channeled towards special education more than other children due to the perception of teachers that such children are difficult or need special attention. (Para.19)

    The Committee recommends that the State party intensify its efforts to improve access to inclusive education for Roma children, inter alia by: (a) taking immediate steps to eliminate negative prejudices and stereotypes regarding Roma and their contribution to society; (b) facilitating the recruitment of Roma teachers so as to ensure, to the widest extent possible, adequate opportunities for Roma children to receive instruction in their native language (c) increasing the availability of schoolbooks in the Romani language; and (d) organising special training for teachers to increase their knowledge about the culture and traditions of Roma and to raise their sensitivity to the needs of Roma children. (Para. 28)

  • Children in institutions. The Committee requests the State party to address the root causes of the high number of children who are removed from their families and placed in institutions or foster homes in the State party, with a view to adopting all necessary measures to ensure, insofar as possible, the maintenance of the links between the child and his/her parent(s). The Committee also requests the State party to provide in its next periodic report disaggregated data on an annual basis on the number and ethnic origin of children placed in institutions or foster homes, the average period of placement, the reasons for such placement, and the measures taken to reunite children with their biological parents. (Para. 29)

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UN Committee against Torture

CAT/C/FIN/CO/7

Adopted by Commmittee: 9-10 November 2016

Published: 29 November 2016

Issues Raised:            

Ratification and National Policies:

The Committee welcomes the State party’s accession to and ratification of the following international instruments: Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, on 1 June 2012; The adoption of the Action Plan for the Prevention of Circumcision (FGM) of Girls and Women 2012-2016, in August 2012; Implementation of the National Programme 2010-2015 on the reduction of disciplinary violence against children by the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL); and of the Children’s House pilot project providing assistance to children and youth victims of sexual and physical violence, in 2013-2016 (para. 3)

Fundamnetal Rights:

Audio  and  video recordings  of  interrogations  during  criminal  investigations are  not  systematically  carried  out  and  only  certain  police  departments  have  the  equipment needed to record hearings involving children (para. 8c).

Detention of Juveniles:

While taking note that the small number of juveniles in detention makes it difficult to build separate detention facilities for that purpose, the Committee is concerned that minors are held with adult prisoners in places of detention (para. 18).

The Committee recommends that the State party take steps to separate juvenile detainees from adults in all places of detention, bearing in mind their best interests, in accordance with the Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice ("The Beijing Rules") and the UN Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of Their Liberty (para. 19).

Violence:

The Committee is concerned about the absence of a sufficient number of shelters for victims of violence and their children   The Committee is further concerned that forced marriage is not included in the Criminal Code as a distinct criminal offence (para. 28).

The Committee is concerned about the absence of a sufficient number of shelters for victims of violence and their children   The Committee is further concerned that forced marriage is not included in the Criminal Code as a distinct criminal offence (para. 28).

The Committee recommends that the State party ensure that all allegations of domestic violence, including sexual violence and violence against children, are registered by the police and are promptly, impartially and effectively investigated and the perpetrators prosecuted and punished; Provide safe and adequately funded shelters for victims and their children, including in relation to the so-called “honour-based” violence, throughout the country; Provide mandatory training for police and other law enforcement officials, social workers, judges and prosecutors on the legislation criminalizing violence against women and on the vulnerabilities of victims of gender-based and domestic violence, including child victims (para. 29).

Ensure that all allegations of domestic violence, including sexual violence and   violence   against   children,   are   registered   by   the   police   and   are  promptly, impartially  and  effectively  investigated  and  that  perpetrators  are  prosecuted  and punished; Provide   safe   and   adequately   funded   shelters  for   victims   and   their children, including for victims of honour-based violence, throughout the country; Provide   mandatory   training   for   police   and   other   law   enforcement officers,  social  workers,  judges  and   prosecutors  on  the  legislation  criminalizing violence  against  women  and  on  the  vulnerabilities  of  victims  of  gender-based  and domestic violence, including child victims (para. 29).

(CAT/C/FIN/5-6)

Last reported: 18 - 19 May 2011
Concluding Observations issued: 29 June 2011 

Issues raised and recommendations given:

Fundamental legal safeguards: The Committee is concerned that from the very outset of detention fundamental legal safeguards were not always ensured for persons deprived of their liberty, in particular those having committed "minor offences", including juveniles, such as meeting with a lawyer, preferably of their choice,, of notifying their next of kin even in case of short stays in police custody and to be examined by an independent doctor, preferably of their own choice, within the detention premises. (arts. 2 and 16)

The Committee recommends that the State party ensure that all persons deprived of liberty are provided with fundamental legal safeguards from the very outset of detention such as access to a lawyer, preferably of their choice,; to notify their family of their detention and to be examined by an independent doctor, preferably of their own choice. (Para. 8)

Detention and ill-treatment of asylum-seekers, irregular immigrants and other aliens: The Committee is concerned about information regarding the frequent use of administrative detention with regard to asylum-seekers, irregular immigrants, unaccompanied or separated minors, women with children and other vulnerable persons, including those with special needs, as well as with their numbers, the frequency and the length of their detention. In addition, the Committee is concerned that the Aliens Act allows for preventive detention not for a crime already committed but if a person is suspected of the possibility of committing a crime. (arts. 11 and 16)

The Committee recommends that the State party consider alternatives to the frequent detention of asylum-seekers, irregular immigrants, including minors and other vulnerable persons, and that it establish a mechanism to examine the frequent detention of such persons. It recommends to the State party to consider increasing the use of non-custodial measures, to use detention as a last resort and to ensure that administrative detention of unaccompanied children is not practiced. The Committee requests the State party to ensure that the Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under any Form of Detention and Imprisonment be applied to asylum-seekers in administrative detention. In addition it would appreciate receiving information on the number of asylum-seekers and irregular immigrants in detention, how frequently they are detained and the average length of their detention. (Para. 18)

The Committee is concerned at the conditions and length of detention of asylum-seekers and irregular immigrants at the detention unit for foreigners at Metsälä and the lack of legal safeguards regarding the length of detention. It is also concerned that such persons are detained not only in the Metsälä detention centre, which has a small capacity, but also in police and border guard detention facilities which are not suitable for holding persons detained under aliens' legislation. The Committee is concerned that men and women are held together in such facilities and that children are held with adults when families with children are placed in migration-related detention and that a total of 54 children were detained in 2010 under the Aliens Act. (arts. 2 and 11)

The Committee recommends that steps be taken to increase the capacity of the Metsälä detention centre or establish a new detention centre for foreigners. It also recommends that the State party review the detention, including length, of asylum-seekers, irregular immigrants and other foreigners in the Metsälä centre as well as in police and border guard detention facilities, provide them with fundamental legal safeguards and set up a complaints mechanism regarding conditions of detention, and use non-custodial measures. (Para. 19)

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Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture

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UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women

CEDAW/C/FIN/CO/7

Lasted reported: 20 February 2014
Concluding Observations issued: 10 March 2014

Issues raised and recommendations given: 

Stereotypes and harmful practices: The Committee is also concerned about the increase in hate speech against women and girls in internet forums and social media, in particular against women from ethnic minorities. (para. 14)

The Committee calls on the State party to develop gender-sensitive counselling for girls and women suffering from eating disorders; engage with the media with the aim of eliminating stereotypical imaging of women especially when it affects women’s health; and strengthen measures to address hate speech against ethnic minority and other women and girls, in the media, including on internet discussion boards and in social media. (para. 15)

Harmful practices: the Committee is concerned about the lack of an explicit provision in national legislation criminalizing the practice of female genital mutilation. (para. 16)

The Committee recommends that the State party undertake efforts to eliminate female genital mutilation, including by raising awareness on its harmful effects and by incorporating an explicit provision criminalizing female genital mutilation in its legislation. (para. 17)

Trafficking: The Committee is concerned that victims of trafficking and exploitation of prostitution may be reluctant to report such exploitation to the authorities for fear of being deported under the State party’s Aliens Act. The Committee also notes that the State party remains an exception in the region as neighbouring states have criminalised the demand for prostitution. The Committee further regrets the lack of information and data on the extent of prostitution as well as the lack of measures taken by the State party to reduce the demand for prostitution and provide alternative income generating opportunities to women who wish to leave prostitution. (para. 20)

The Committee recommends that the State party review its legislation on human trafficking and provide clear definitions of trafficking and pandering to ensure that victims are properly identified and provided with adequate protection and assistance; assess the risk of deportation for victims of trafficking under the Aliens Act and introduce amendments to the Act where necessary; ensure that women and girls who are victims of trafficking have access to medical care, legal and psycho-social counselling, adequate housing, education, income generating opportunities, and rehabilitation and reintegration programmes; and to pursue steps to criminalise the demand for prostitution and take measures to discourage such demand. (para. 21)

Education: The Committee remains concerned about the continued presence of traditional values and gender stereotypes in the curricula for different subjects. (para. 24)

The Committee recommends that the State party eliminate gender stereotypes and structural barriers that potentially deter girls’ and boys’ enrolment in non-traditional educational and occupational fields at all levels. (para. 25)

Migrant workers: The Committee is also concerned that migrant women are particularly vulnerable to various forms of violence, including domestic violence, female genital mutilation and so called killing in the name of honour, and may encounter difficulties in accessing social and protection services against these forms of violence due to legal illiteracy or fear of losing their residence permit or of being deported in case they are in an irregular situation. (para. 30)

The Committee recommends that the State party to strengthen measures to eliminate discrimination against migrant women both in society at large and within their communities. (para. 31)

Women with disabilities: The Committee is further concerned about the high rate of sexual violence against women with disabilities and the lack of specialised services for victims, in particular shelters and 24-hour helplines accessible to women with disabilities. (para. 32)

The Committee urges the State party to take concrete measures to address violence against women with disabilities through the provision of accessible shelters and 24-hour victim support hotlines, and police training and awareness-raising on such violence. (para. 33)

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UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women

(CEDAW/C/FIN/5 and 6)

Lasted reported: 9 July 2008
Concluding Observations: 15 July 2008

Concerns and recommendations:

  • Violence against women and girls: The Committee notes the various efforts undertaken by the State party to combat violence against women and girls, including the introduction of restraining orders for persons living in the same household. However, the Committee is concerned about the high incidence of violence against women, including the high number of women killed in domestic violence, and sexual harassment, the absence of a comprehensive strategy to combat all forms of violence against women and the lack of an effective institutional mechanism to coordinate, monitor and assess actions at the governmental level to prevent and address this scourge (Para. 173)

    The Committee calls upon the State party to intensify its efforts to prevent and address all forms of violence against women and girls, including domestic violence, in accordance with the Committee's general recommendation No. 19 and the State party's reaffirmed commitment during the Universal Periodic Review of the Human Rights Council (A/HRC/WG.6/1/FIN/4, para. 50). It also calls upon the State party to put in place expeditiously a comprehensive strategy or action plan and a campaign to prevent and eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, and an effective institutional mechanism at the cabinet level to coordinate, monitor and assess the effectiveness of measures taken (Para. 174)

  • Prostitution: The Committee requests the State party to provide in its next periodic report complete information and data as well as the result of an ongoing study on the exploitation of prostitution of women, including information on clandestine prostitution in massage parlours, and an assessment of the law's implementation to date. The State party is encouraged to continue formulating strategies and programmes to prevent women from entering prostitution and to establish programmes of rehabilitation and support for women and girls who wish to discontinue their lives in prostitution, including providing them with information on and support in relation to alternative livelihood options (Para. 176)
  • Stereotypes: The Committee is concerned that media and advertising in the State party are becoming increasingly pornographic, and that the over-sexualised depiction of women strengthens the existing stereotypes of women as sex object and girls' low self-esteem (Para. 177)
  • Gender perspective and sexual harassment in education. The Committee notes with concern the lack of a gender perspective in early childhood education and the overall gender neutrality of the educational curriculum and teaching materials. It also notes with concern the high rate of girls experiencing sexual harassment at school and the lack of adequate training for teachers to address such phenomenon (Para. 181)
  • Girls' mental health. The Committee expresses its concern at the deteriorating mental health situation of girls, including depression, eating disorders, and increased alcohol and drug consumption. It is particularly concerned at the high suicide rate among girls (Para. 185)

    The Committee urges the State party to take the necessary measures to address the deteriorating mental health situation of young girls, to prevent and combat the abuse of alcohol and use of drugs, and to prevent girls' suicide. It also recommends awareness-raising and educational campaigns, in particular through the media, targeted at adolescent girls (Para. 186)

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UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) Follow-up report

30 June – 18 July 2008

In its Concluding Observations, the Committee requested Finland to provide, within two years, detailed written information on the implementation of the recommendations contained in paragraph 174 of the concluding observations (para. 200).

  • Violence against women: The Committee calls upon the State party to intensify its efforts to prevent and address all forms of violence against women and girls, including domestic violence, in accordance with the Committee's general recommendation No. 19 and the State party's reaffirmed commitment during the Universal Periodic Review of the Human Rights Council (A/HRC/WG.6/1/FIN/4, para. 50). It also calls upon the State party to put in place expeditiously a comprehensive strategy or action plan and a campaign to prevent and eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, and an effective institutional mechanism at the cabinet level to coordinate, monitor and assess the effectiveness of measures taken. The Committee recommends that the State party carry out studies and monitor closely the new law on the mediation procedure in order to ensure that such procedure is implemented in a way that respects and promotes women's human rights and does not lead to perpetrators escaping prosecution. The Committee urges the State party to ensure that a sufficient number of shelters, staffed by expert personnel and provided with adequate financial resources, are available to women victims of violence. It recommends that shelters adhere to a strict policy of confidentiality to protect the victim's identity and the locality of shelters. The Committee urges the State party to take steps towards enacting a legislation criminalizing sexual harassment."

    In response to the recommendations given in paragraph 174, the government provided a detailed report in October 2010.

    The Committee requested further follow-up information in a letter dated 25 August 2010. This did not include any specific mention of children's rights.

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UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
 

CERD/C/FIN/CO/23

Last reported: 23 December 2015

Concluding observations published: 8 June 2017

Issues raised:

Positive aspects

The Committee welcomes the ratification of the following international instruments since the examination of the combined twentieth to twenty-second periodic reports of the State party (CERD/C/FIN/20-22):

The Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, on 1 June 2012, and the Optional Protocol on a communications procedure, on 12 November 2015.  (Para.4). 

Roma communities

While noting the increase in the number of students receiving instruction in Romani, and commending the State party for its well-developed Roma policy programme, the Committee is concerned that the majority of Roma people continue to face discrimination in the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights, particularly in terms of access to employment, housing and education (art. 5). (para. 12)

Referring to its general recommendations No. 32 (2009) on the meaning and scope of special measures in the Convention and No. 27 (2000) on discrimination against Roma, the Committee recommends that the State party strengthen its measures to integrate Roma into the labour and housing markets, include Roma children in education and promote the teaching of Romani. It further recommends that the State party provide in its next report to the Committee information on the concrete results of the measures taken. (Para.13)

Sami languages

The Committee notes that 75 per cent of Sami children under the age of 11 years live outside the Sami homeland and is concerned that, despite an allocated budget increase, the number of qualified teachers of Sami languages remains insufficient. The Committee also notes that the State party has proposed an amendment to the Sami Language Act (1086/2003). The Committee is concerned by reports that the provision of health and social care services in the Sami languages remains insufficient, despite the State party’s efforts to strengthen knowledge of those languages and culture among health and social care personnel (art. 5). (Para. 18)

The Committee encourages the State party to continue to make efforts to revitalize the Sami languages, including outside the Sami homeland. The Committee recommends that the State party ensure adequate provision of physical and mental health services and social care in the Sami languages (Para. 19).

Bullying of children perceived to have foreign backgrounds

The Committee commends the State party for designing and implementing an antibullying programme in schools. However, while noting the delegation’s statement that progress has been made, the Committee is concerned by the indication in the State party’s report that the incidence of bullying has not decreased (arts. 2 and 5). (Para. 22)

In accordance with its general recommendation No. 20 (1996) on article 5 of the Convention, the Committee recommends that, in order to ensure equal and inclusive access to education for all children, the State party strengthen its efforts to promote tolerance, diversity and equality in school curricula in order to encourage an effective multicultural learning environment. (Para. 23)

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CERD/C/FIN/CO/20-22
Last reported: 23 / 24 August 2012
Concluding Observations issued: 23 October 2012

Issues raised:

Education and discrimination: The Committee is concerned that, while about 70 per cent of Sámi-speaking children live outside of the Sámi Homeland, mainly in theHelsinkiarea, Rovaniemi and Oulu, the right of the Sámi to receive early childhood education in the Sámi language is recognized only in the Sámi Homeland. The Committee is also concerned at the fact that social and health services are not effectively guaranteed to Sámi people in their languages (arts. 5 and 7). Para 14.

The Committee recommends that the State party take appropriate measures to ensure that all Sámi children throughout the territory of the State party effectively receive education in their own languages, including by training more teachers in Sámi languages. The Committee also recommends that the State party effectively ensure social and health services in Sámi languages to Sámi people in their Homeland. The Committee further recommends that the State party accelerate the adoption of the revitalization programme proposed by the Ministry of Education and Culture in order to promote and protect the Sámi languages, including in media, education, social and health services and culture.

Inequalities and Roma children:  While noting the studies undertaken and policies announced by the State party to address the socioeconomic inequalities faced by Roma in various areas of life, in particular the National Policy on Roma of 2009, the Committee is concerned that the Roma people continue to face discrimination in the enjoyment of social and economic and cultural rights, in particular in access to employment and housing. While noting efforts made by the State party to integrate Roma children into education and to promote the Romani language, the Committee is concerned that around 50 per cent of Roma children are enrolled in special education classes (art. 5). Para 15.

Recalling its general recommendations No. 32 (2009) on the meaning and scope of special measures in the International Convention of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and No. 27 (2000) on discrimination against Roma, the Committee recommends that the State party take practical measures to implement effectively its National Policy on Roma, so as to reach concrete results regarding their integration into the labour market and housing. The Committee also encourages the State party to strengthen its measures with regard to the inclusion of Roma children in education and to promote the teaching of the Romani language, including by enhancing teachers’ abilities in that language. The Committee requests that the State party provide it with information on specific measures taken as well as on their concrete results.

Bullying: While noting the reduction of bullying in schools achieved through the KiVa programme and the State party’s efforts to reduce negative stereotyping of Roma through rap-music television spots aimed at young people, the Committee remains concerned at the persistence of bullying of Roma children and immigrant children in schools (arts. 2 and 7). Para 17

Recalling its general recommendations No. 27 (2000) on discrimination against Roma and No. 30 (2009) on discrimination against non-citizens, the Committee recommends that the State party continue to strengthen its efforts to protect Roma children and immigrant children from bullying in schools.

Unaccompanied children: While noting the State party’s intent to curtail the detention of unaccompanied minor asylum seekers, the Committee is concerned about the detention of asylum seekers belonging to vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women and persons with disabilities and victims of torture. The Committee is also concerned that, because of overcrowding in the Metsälä Detention Centre, asylum seekers are sometimes detained in police facilities. The Committee is further concerned that, because of inadequate funding from the national Government, there is insufficient housing in the municipalities for successful asylum applicants. Moreover, the Committee is concerned that the use of expedited procedures for adjudicating asylum applications and the lack of automatic suspensive effect of an appeal may risk the refoulement of persons entitled to asylum, especially those with pending appeals. Para 18.

The Committee recommends that the State party employ alternatives to the detention of asylum seekers whenever possible and that asylum seekers not be detained in police facilities. The Committee also recommends that the national Government provide adequate funding to the municipalities for the provision of housing to successful asylum applicants. The Committee further recommends that the State party carefully examine its use of accelerated procedures in asylum cases to avoid any risk of refoulement of persons entitled to asylum, and provide automatic suspensive effect to appeals of rejected asylum applications.

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(CERD/C/FIN/CO/19)

Last reported: 25-26 March 2009
Concluding Observations adopted: 13 March 2009

Concerns raised:

  • Racist and xenophobic attitudes: The Committee notes that the State party has adopted measures to combat racist and xenophobic attitudes among the young through, inter alia, the allowance of grants to support projects for the promotion of multiculturalism and anti-racist works and awareness-raising measures directed at both teachers and students in basic and secondary level education. The Committee also notes that school-specific curricula include the prevention of bullying. However, it remains concerned at the persistence of racist and xenophobic attitudes among many sectors of the population.

    The Committee encourages the State party to continue its efforts to monitor all tendencies which may give rise to racist and xenophobic behaviour and to combat the negative consequences of such tendencies. It also recommends that the State party continue to promote, at all levels of education, general awareness of diversity and multiculturalism and expand its programme aimed at prevention of bullying which affects disproportionately pupils from an immigrant background by hampering their integration into society. It further encourages the State party to target Finn adults in its strategies to combat racist and xenophobic attitudes (Para. 15)

 

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UN Committee on Migrant Workers

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UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

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UN Committee on Enforced Disappearance

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Countries

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