Country report, gender equality. How are EU rules transposed into national law?: Finland 2020

The Finnish legal system is based on statute law. Finland follows a dualist approach to international law. The Government has the right of legislative initiative, although legislative proposals submitted by MPs may be adopted. In addition, a citizens’ initiative, allowing citizens to make legislative initiatives to Parliament, has been in use since 2012. Although legislation is generally introduced by a Government bill, even the new citizens’ initiative has been used for gender-related issues. Gender equality legislation consists of constitutional and ordinary legislative provisions. The relevant case law consists of judgments by the Supreme Court (which has competence concerning civil, commercial, and criminal law, including employment contracts and criminal law provisions on discrimination), the Administrative Supreme Court (which has competence concerning administrative law, including the position of public servants), and the Labour Court (which has an exclusive mandate to decide matters concerning collective agreements).