Hearing of Finland in Geneva on civil and political rights

Press release 238/2004
20 October 2004


The fifth periodic report of Finland on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights was considered in the UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva 18–19 October. Finland has ratified this central international human rights treaty in 1976.

Considering the report, the Committee, which monitors the implementation of the Covenant, heard the representatives of Finland. The leader of the Delegation was Pekka Hallberg, President of the Supreme Administrative Court of Finland. The other members were Jukka Lindstedt, Counsellor of Legislation, Ministry of Justice; Mikko Cortés Téllez, Planning Officer, Ministry of Education; Tiina Sinkkanen, Legislative Counsellor, Ministry of the Interior; Riitta-Maija Jouttimäki, Ministerial Adviser, Legal Affairs, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health; Meri-Sisko Eskola, Senior Planning Officer, Ministry of Labour; and Päivi Rotola-Pukkila, Legal Officer, Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

The Delegation presented to the Committee recent legislative initiatives and e.g. the question of the land rights of the Sami as well as national and international measures to improve the position of the Roma. The Delegation also told the Committee about recent measures in order to promote equality between women and men and to combat violence. Moreover, the significance of a solid fundamental rights system and of the rule of law for civil and political rights was stressed.

The Committee paid attention to the reservations submitted by Finland when implementing the Covenant. The Committee also showed interest for the practical application of equality between women and men, the Non-Discrimination Act and the action of the Ombudsman for Minorities, the length of civil service, and the living conditions of the Roma, especially their education and employment. As regards the Sami, the Committee raised especially the issue of the implementation of the language legislation and the question of land ownership.

The discussion was lively and wide-ranging. The Committee praised the report of Finland and the way it was presented. The Committee will probably give its conclusions concerning the situation of Finland and its related recommendations in about three weeks.

A separate meeting will be held on the hearing and on the conclusions of the Committee.

Further information:
Päivi Rotola-Pukkila, Legal Officer, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. + 358 9 1605 5725

UN press release on the hearing of the representatives of Finland(Link to another website.)