Indicator history

In 2009-2011, the European Court of Human Rights did not issue any judgements on Finland pertaining to discrimination on the grounds of age, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation or racial or ethnic origin.

In 2009-2012 the Parliamentary Ombudsman, which exercise oversight to ensure that public authorities and officials observe the law and fulfil their du­ties in the discharge of their functions, did not issue any reprimands concerning discrimination on the grounds of age, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation or racial or ethnic origin.

The Chancellor of Justice, which supervises the lawfulness of the actions of Government Ministers and public officials, as well as monitors the implementation of basic rights and liberties and human rights, issued altogether two decisions during that period.

In one case, a civil servant of Occupational Safety and Health Authority had decided that discrimination on the ground of an employee's industrial activity does not constitute discrimination as prohibited in the Non-Discrimination Act. In a decision issued on 30.09.2009, the Chancellor of Justice notified the Occupational Safety and Health Authorities of the correct interpretation of the Non-Discrimination Act.  The Chancellor of Justice pointed out that the list of prohibited grounds in the Non-Discrimination Act also contains the notion of "other comparable reason", which is to be interpreted in the light of the Constitution of Finland and the EU race and employment equality directives. Accordingly, the Chancellor of Justice decided that industrial activity constitutes a prohibited ground of discrimination. (OKV/1233/1/2007).

In another case, a city had placed a job advertisement seeking for an employee who was a resident of the municipality. In a decision issued on 01.07.2009, the Chancellor of Justice informed the city council that the advertisement infringed the prohibition of discrimination as provided in the Non-Discrimination Act and in the Constitution of Finland. (OKV/250/1/2007).