Implementation issues

• Author: Hiltunen, Rainer
• Pages: 57-59

57

8 IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES

8.1 Dissemination of information, dialogue with NGOs and between social

partners

a) Dissemination of information about legal protection against discrimination (Article

10 Directive 2000/43 and Article 12 Directive 2000/78)

The unit for democracy, language affairs and fundamental rights within the Ministry of

Justice maintains the Equality.fi website, which provides resources for authorities,

organisations and those interested in equality and non-discrimination. The website

includes training material, together with information on legislation, research, ongoing

campaigns and different minorities.136

b) Measures to encourage dialogue with NGOs with a view to promoting the principle

of equal treatment (Article 12 Directive 2000/43 and Article 14 Directive 2000/78)

An Advisory Board on Non-Discrimination (yhdenvertaisuusasioiden neuvottelukunta) was

established by a Government decree137 in January 2016 and was set up for a three-year

period from 15 October 2016 to 14 October 2019. No new board had been nominated by

the end of 2019, but this was expected to happen at the beginning of 2020.

The advisory board is composed of the Non-Discrimination Ombudsman as the chairman

and a maximum of 40 other members ‘representing significant expertise in combating

discrimination’ –their characteristics are defined in the Government decree. The

Government decree does not provide any further information on the selection criteria for

the members of the advisory board, but among the organisations represented on the

advisory board are key ministries, social partners and NGOs representing all grounds of

discrimination in the sphere of activity of the Ombudsman. The board does not have any

decision-making role, but works as a communications network between the Ombudsman,

civil society and authorities.

The Advisory Board for Ethnic Relations seeks to promote interaction between Finland’s

ethnic minorities and the authorities, NGOs, political parties and social partners, and to

provide the ministries with immigrant and minority policy expertise in the interests of

promoting an ethnically equal and diverse society.138 There are also seven regional

advisory boards for ethnic relations.

c) Measures to promote dialogue between social partners to give effect to the principle

of equal treatment within workplace practices, codes of practice and workforce

monitoring (Article 11 Directive 2000/43 and Article 13 Directive 2000/78)

The Advisory Board on Non-Discrimination (yhdenvertaisuusasioiden neuvottelukunta)

has a subcommittee on employment issues. It gathers together the representatives of

trade unions and employers and NGOs representing different discrimination grounds. The

subcommittee has organised events, such as a fair designed promote the participation of

persons with disabilities to employment.

d) Addressing the situation of Roma and Travellers

There are a number of bodies that deal with discrimination/equality in relation to the

Roma. These include, most importantly, the Advisory Board on Romani Affairs (RONK),

136 http://yhdenvertaisuus.fi/en/frontpage.

137 Government Decree on the Advisory Board on Non-Discrimination (Valtioneuvoston asetus

yhdenvertaisuusasiain neuvottelukunnasta), 39/2016,

https://www.edilex.fi/saadoskokoelma/20160039.pdf.

138 https://oikeusministerio.fi/en/the-advisory-board-for-ethnic-relations.