Amnesty International Report 2014/15 - Finland
| Publisher | Amnesty International |
| Publication Date | 25 February 2015 |
| Cite as | Amnesty International, Amnesty International Report 2014/15 - Finland, 25 February 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/54f07df14.html [accessed 25 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Republic of Finland
Head of state: Sauli Niinistö
Head of government: Alexander Stubb (replaced Jyrki Katainen in June)
Asylum-seekers and migrants faced detention in unsuitable facilities. An investigation into Finland's involvement in the US-led rendition programme failed to find evidence. Support for victims of sexual and gender-based violence remained insufficient. Transgender people faced obstacles to legal gender recognition.
Refugees' and migrants' rights
Finland continued to detain asylum-seekers and migrants, including children. During 2013, approximately 1,500 migrants were detained under the Aliens Act, of whom the majority were held in police detention facilities. Ten unaccompanied children were held together with adults in the Metsälä detention centre. In September 2014, a new detention centre intended to hold families with children and other vulnerable individuals, connected with the Joutseno reception facility, was opened.
In January, the Ombudsman for Minorities began monitoring forced removals of refused asylum-seekers and migrants.
Counter-terror and security
In April, the Parliamentary Ombudsman published the results of his investigation into Finland's alleged role in the US-led programme of rendition and secret detention. The Ombudsman found no evidence that Finnish officials had any knowledge of rendition flights by the CIA in Finland, but "could not give any guarantees" as some flight information was not included in the probe because it was no longer available.[1]
Violence against women and girls
Rape is still defined by the degree of violence or threats of violence used by the perpetrator, rather than the violation of sexual autonomy and physical and mental integrity.
Support for victims of gender-based and sexual violence remains insufficient and at risk of deterioration. Two women's shelters were closed down in 2013, and only two crisis centres offered support to rape victims. Finland does not meet the shelter requirements set by the Council of Europe Istanbul Convention. Despite the government's stated intention to ratify the Convention, its proposal published in September included neither a dedicated budget nor an action plan for extending the required services to victims of violence.
A survey published in March by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights found that 47% of women had experienced physical or sexual violence since the age of 15 by a partner and/or non-partner. Only 10% of women contacted the police as a result of the most serious incident of violence by their partner.
In March, the CEDAW Committee recommended allocating adequate resources to a National Action Plan to prevent violence against women, establishing an institutional mechanism to co-ordinate and monitor any measures, ensuring sufficient and adequately resourced shelters, opening rape crisis centres and walk-in centres, and establishing a 24-hour helpline.
Discrimination – transgender people
Widespread prejudices and discriminatory legislation negatively affected the enjoyment of human rights by transgender individuals.[2] Transgender people were able to obtain legal gender recognition only if they agreed to be sterilized or diagnosed with a mental disorder, and were of age and could prove that they were single. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health finalized a draft law in November proposing the removal of the requirements regarding sterilization and single status; the bill had not been presented to Parliament by the end of the year.
Prisoners of conscience
Conscientious objectors to military service continued to be imprisoned for refusing to undertake alternative civilian service, which remained punitive and discriminatory in length. Since February 2013, the duration of alternative civilian service has been 347 days, more than double the shortest military service period of 165 days.
1. Finland: CIA rendition probe findings 'disappointing' (Press release) www.amnesty.org/en/news/finland-cia-rendition-probe-findings-disappointing-2014-04-29
2. The state decides who I am: Lack of legal gender recognition for transgender people in Europe (EUR 01/001/2014) www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/EUR01/001/2014/en
