UN Human Rights Council approves the report on the human rights situation in Finland
Press release 209/2008
June 9, 2008
Periodic review of Finland’s human rights situation was completed in the regular session of the UN Human Rights Council on 9 June, where a one-hour dialogue ended by adopting the recommendations and conclusions presented for Finland. The Finnish delegation was led by State Secretary Teija Tiilikainen of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
The recommendations urged Finland, among other things, to intensify efforts against discrimination, to promote the rights of minorities, especially ethnic and sexual minorities, and to combat racist phenomena, particular those on the Internet. Domestic violence against women and children also rose to the fore.
Finland was urged to consider ratification of certain international conventions, such as the ILO Convention concerning indigenous and tribal peoples. The final documents on Finland’s review, the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) working group report, the considerations verbally presented by Finland at the regular session of the Human Rights Council and the additional written clarifications supplied for the regular session can be read in their entirety on the website of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
The Universal Periodic Review is a mechanism launched by the UN Human Rights Council in April 2008 for reviewing human rights in all UN Member States once every four years. The review is conducted mainly by a UPR working group that meets between regular sessions of the Human Rights Council, in which all UN Member States can participate. The human rights situation in Finland was discussed in the first session of the UPR working group on 9 April 2008, and the report on Finland’s human rights situation, including preliminary conclusions and recommendations, was adopted by the UPR working group on 11 April.
Additional information: Sofie From-Emmesberger, Head of the Unit for Human Rights Policy, tel. +358 9 1605 6551, and First Secretary Anu-Eerika Viljanen, Unit for Human Rights Policy, tel. +358 9 1605 5583, [email protected]