Finland received Concluding Observations from the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women regarding the implementation of women’s rights
Press Release 48/2014
28 February 2014
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women has considered the periodic report of Finland regarding the elimination of such discrimination, submitted in accordance with the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. A public oral hearing of the Finnish delegation took place in conjunction with the session. The Committee published its Concluding Observations today in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Committee welcomed the development of the Act on Equality between Women and Men as well as the Government’s various action plans aiming to eliminate discrimination against women and promote gender equality. It also praised the ratification of Optional Protocols to human rights Conventions. The Committee believes that awareness of the Convention and its Optional Protocol should be increased.
The Committee recommended that Finland consider establishing a high-level coordination mechanism that would work to mainstream gender equality issues and eliminate discrimation against women. Reforms of legislation on gender equality should afford protection to women against multiple or intersecting forms of discrimination.
Among the Committee recommendations was the allocation of adequate financial resources for implementing the national action plan aimed at eliminating violence against women. The Committee also called for the establishment of an effective and adequately resourced mechanism to coordinate, monitor and assess the effectiveness of the plan.
The Committee recommended the use of gender-sensitive language in public discourse. With regard to intimate partner and domestic violence, the Committee proposed that mandatory mediation and conciliation be prohibited. In addition, the Committee made recommendations concerning amendment of the statutory definition of criminal offences of rape, ensuring a sufficient number of shelters with adequate resources, opening a free 24-hour helpline and ratification of the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women.
The Committee recommended the inclusion of a special provision on female genital mutilation in legislation. Measures should be taken to criminalise the demand for prostitution.
The Committee recommended the elimination of gender stereotypes and structural barriers associated with education. In addition, recommendations were given with regard to equal pay between the genders, the impact of family leave on fixed-term employment as well as women’s and men’s equal right to parental leave.
The Committee recommended expeditious amendment of the Act on Legal Recognition of the Gender of Transsexuals. A number of recommendations were also given pertaining to the elimination of discrimination against women with disabilities and Roma, Sami and immigrant women.
The Committee requested the Finnish Parliament, in line with its mandate, to take steps to implement the Concluding Observations.
Finland’s next periodic review on the implementation of the Convention will be submitted in 2018. The implementation of the recommendations concerning violence against women, however, shall be reported within two years.
Additional information: Counsellor Krista Oinonen, Unit for Human Rights Courts and Conventions, tel. +358 295 351 172, e-mail: [email protected]