Violence against women discussed by UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women

Press release 252/2008
15.7.2008

Finnish women experience a considerable amount of violence even if the level of equality in the country is advanced in many ways, estimated The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in New York. At the focus of the Committee on 9 July was a Finnish hearing with two reports on Finland from 2003 and 2007.

One of the suggestions of the Committee was that in order to cut down violence against women in Finland, there should be a working group led by the Prime Minister and with NGOs involved in its preparative work. Violence against girls at schools and in public places was also discussed.

The number of women in leading positions in Finland also appeared in the discussions, and the progress was considered rather slow by the commentators. As an example, the speakers mentioned the academic world and professors’ posts in particular. 

Minority women and their multiple discrimination were brought up at the meeting, highlighting the issue of integration amongst immigrant women. The situation of sexual minorities and the adoption right of female couples were also discussed.  Moreover, one of the Members of the Committee proposed an action programme to promote Sami women’s position in Finland.

The Committee also discussed the Finnish Act on Equality and they appreciated the fact that this Act will not be combined to the Act on Equality between men and women.

The Committee appreciated the intersectoral nature of the Finnish delegation, consisting of state officials from different Ministries, but also of a Member of the Parliamentary Constitutional Law Committee. The Head of the Delegation was Arto Kosonen, Head of Unit for Unit for Human Rights Courts and Conventions at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.

The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women is now treating the Periodic Reports by the States parties of the Convention concerning the application of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. The implementation of the Convention is being monitored by regular Periodic Reports provided by the States parties, the reports focusing on the measures taken in order to implement the legal obligations of the Convention. The Committee can submit conclusions to the States parties concerning measures to eliminate discrimination against women.

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women has been ratified by 185 states. It entered into force in Finland in 1986. The Convention can be considered as the key document concerning women’s rights and especially the elimination of discrimination against women. It has been completed with an Optional Protocol, approved in 1999, which gives women an individual right to appeal. So far, no individual appeals concerning Finland have been treated by the Committee.

More information: Satu Kaskinen, Legal Officer, Legislative Affairs, Unit for Human Rights Courts and Conventions, tel. + 358 9 160 55298