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COMMITTEE ON ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION STARTS CONSIDERATION OF FINLAND'S REPORT
03 March 1999
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AFTERNOON HR/CERD/99/7
3 March 1999
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this afternoon started its consideration of a report presented by the Government of Finland on how it was complying with the provisions of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
Eero J. Aarnio, Counsellor of Legislation at the Ministry of Justice of Finland and head of the delegation, introduced his country's report, saying that a large part of the Finnish population which had been silent about issues relating to racism in the past was changing this attitude. Unfortunately, the activities of extreme racist groups had also become more visible, although the number of such groups was small. It was nevertheless crucially important that people were increasingly encouraged to raise their voices against racism.
The Permanent Representative of Finland to the United Nations Office at Geneva, Pekka Huhtaniemi, presented the delegation which also included Government officials from the Ministries of Labour, Foreign Affairs and Education.
Michel E. Sherifis, the Committee expert who served as country rapporteur to the report of Finland, acknowledged the steps taken by Finnish authorities to advance and modernize its human rights system. However, he said the absence of a law prohibiting and punishing racist organizations for activities which promoted and incited racial discrimination was to be regretted.
Also participating in the discussion were Committee experts Luis Valencia Rodriguez, Michael Parker Banton, Theodoor van Boven, Peter Nobel, Ivan Garvalov, Régis de Gouttes, and Mario Jorge Yutzis.
As one of 153 States parties to the Convention, Finland must submit periodic reports to the Committee on how it was implementing the provisions of the treaty.
The Committee will reconvene at 10 p.m. on Thursday, 4 March, to conclude its consideration of the report of Finland.
Report of Finland
The report of Finland (document CERD/C/320/Add.2) reviews the measures undertaken by the Government to implement the provisions of the Convention on an article-by-article basis. The report enumerates the different legislative and administrative measures implemented during the last few years in Finland. Among other things, the reform of fundamental rights serves to reinforce the rights of ethnic minorities and foreigners in the Constitution, says the report. In addition, ethnic and discrimination are punishable by law.
The report further says that at the national level, several legislative and administrative amendments have been made to the status of the Sami as an indigenous people and a national, ethnic and linguistic minority. It says that the number of persons seeking asylum in Finland has decreased since 1992.
Furthermore, the report says that the Office of the Ombudsman for Aliens deals with discrimination cases. Since 1996, the Office started paying more attention to discrimination directed against immigrants and began to collect information on that subject. According to a report, the negative attitudes of Finns towards immigrants usually takes the form of name-calling or insulting words on the street, around the home or on the bus. An extreme manifestation is racist violence, reported by 11 persons. Immigrants from Africa were most frequently faced with racist violence, says the report.
Introduction of Report
EERO J. AARNIO, head of the delegation and Counsellor of Legislation at the Ministry of Justice of Finland, said that according to the reform of the provisions on fundamental rights, which entered into force in 1995, children who permanently resided in the country had both the duty and the right to go to school. Immigrant children also had the possibility to learn in their own native language. The teaching in Sami language in the Sami Homeland was encouraged with increased State subsidy for that purpose. In addition, municipalities were responsible for organizing comprehensive school education in the Roma language.
Mr. Aarnio said that a new act on the integration of immigrants and reception of asylum seekers would probably enter into force in May 1999. It
would provide for an integration benefit to be granted to the immigrant for a period of three years. As from 1 January 1998, the Asylum Appeals Board had been abolished and its duties had been vested to the provincial Administrative Court of southern Finland, the decisions of which could be appealed in front of the Supreme Administrative Court.
In order to combat racism and xenophobia, the Government had set up an independent commission, Mr. Aarnio went on to state. In the last two years, immigrants and other traditional minorities had been represented in the commission, both as members and experts. Also, the Advisory Board for Ethnic Relations had also been established by the Government with half of the members being new immigrants and from national minorities. A labour market section had been set up within the Board, consisting of representatives of the most important organizations of collective bargaining.
In conclusion, Mr. Aarnio said that due to the increased number of immigrants and to active drafting of legislation, education, information and campaigns, the public debate on this issue had become livelier and more fruitful. A large part of the population which had been silent about issues relating to racism was changing this attitude. Unfortunately, the activities of extreme racist groups had also become more visible, although the number of such groups was small. It was nevertheless crucially important that people were increasingly encouraged to raise their voices against racism, he said.
Discussion
MICHEL E. SHERIFIS, the Committee expert who served as country rapporteur to the report of Finland, acknowledged the steps taken by Finnish authorities to advance and modernize its human rights system. However, the absence of a law prohibiting and punishing racist organizations for activities which promoted and incited racial discrimination was to be regretted. Despite numerous legislative and administrative measures to combat racism, Finnish legislation fell short of the requirements of the Convention on the issue. Finland was obliged to comply with article 4 of the Convention on condemning all propaganda and all organizations which were based on ideas and theories of racial prejudice.
Mr. Sherifis said that it was to be regretted that the issue of land rights of the Sami people had not been as yet resolved. However, the recognition in the Constitution of the Sami and Roma peoples and of their rights to develop their language and culture was to be appreciated, although there appeared to be significant difficulties in the enjoyment and development of those rights. He further said that there was still a long way to go for the elimination of de facto discrimination against the Sami and Roma minorities, especially in the areas of housing, employment and social services.
Mr. Sherifis said that Finland was to be congratulated for its efforts to advance human rights and for measures it had taken in that direction. He noted, among the measures taken to promote racial tolerance, the establishment of a Parliamentary Ombudsman, the Ombudsman for Aliens, the Advisory Board for Refugees and Migrant Affairs, the introduction of a human rights curriculum in schools and the extension of the application of fundamental rights to non-citizens. He expressed the hope that Finland could become a model as a country of racial tolerance.
Other Committee experts also raised questions on issues concerning Sami and Roma peoples. Some experts said that those peoples were not fully enjoying their rights as minorities with respect to land rights and forests.
An expert said that there were certain racist groups in Finland with ultra-nationalist and racist characteristics. In its previous concluding remarks, the Committee had recommended that Finland adopt legislation which clearly prohibited and punished acts of racial discrimination and organizations that promoted and incited such racial discrimination.
Another expert was concerned about the application of the Aliens' Act of 1993 with regard to deportation of asylum seekers and the criteria of safe third countries. The expert recalled the cases of some Somalians who were deported from Finland, and wanted to know what criteria had been used to expel them to a third country.
3 March 1999
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this afternoon started its consideration of a report presented by the Government of Finland on how it was complying with the provisions of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
Eero J. Aarnio, Counsellor of Legislation at the Ministry of Justice of Finland and head of the delegation, introduced his country's report, saying that a large part of the Finnish population which had been silent about issues relating to racism in the past was changing this attitude. Unfortunately, the activities of extreme racist groups had also become more visible, although the number of such groups was small. It was nevertheless crucially important that people were increasingly encouraged to raise their voices against racism.
The Permanent Representative of Finland to the United Nations Office at Geneva, Pekka Huhtaniemi, presented the delegation which also included Government officials from the Ministries of Labour, Foreign Affairs and Education.
Michel E. Sherifis, the Committee expert who served as country rapporteur to the report of Finland, acknowledged the steps taken by Finnish authorities to advance and modernize its human rights system. However, he said the absence of a law prohibiting and punishing racist organizations for activities which promoted and incited racial discrimination was to be regretted.
Also participating in the discussion were Committee experts Luis Valencia Rodriguez, Michael Parker Banton, Theodoor van Boven, Peter Nobel, Ivan Garvalov, Régis de Gouttes, and Mario Jorge Yutzis.
As one of 153 States parties to the Convention, Finland must submit periodic reports to the Committee on how it was implementing the provisions of the treaty.
The Committee will reconvene at 10 p.m. on Thursday, 4 March, to conclude its consideration of the report of Finland.
Report of Finland
The report of Finland (document CERD/C/320/Add.2) reviews the measures undertaken by the Government to implement the provisions of the Convention on an article-by-article basis. The report enumerates the different legislative and administrative measures implemented during the last few years in Finland. Among other things, the reform of fundamental rights serves to reinforce the rights of ethnic minorities and foreigners in the Constitution, says the report. In addition, ethnic and discrimination are punishable by law.
The report further says that at the national level, several legislative and administrative amendments have been made to the status of the Sami as an indigenous people and a national, ethnic and linguistic minority. It says that the number of persons seeking asylum in Finland has decreased since 1992.
Furthermore, the report says that the Office of the Ombudsman for Aliens deals with discrimination cases. Since 1996, the Office started paying more attention to discrimination directed against immigrants and began to collect information on that subject. According to a report, the negative attitudes of Finns towards immigrants usually takes the form of name-calling or insulting words on the street, around the home or on the bus. An extreme manifestation is racist violence, reported by 11 persons. Immigrants from Africa were most frequently faced with racist violence, says the report.
Introduction of Report
EERO J. AARNIO, head of the delegation and Counsellor of Legislation at the Ministry of Justice of Finland, said that according to the reform of the provisions on fundamental rights, which entered into force in 1995, children who permanently resided in the country had both the duty and the right to go to school. Immigrant children also had the possibility to learn in their own native language. The teaching in Sami language in the Sami Homeland was encouraged with increased State subsidy for that purpose. In addition, municipalities were responsible for organizing comprehensive school education in the Roma language.
Mr. Aarnio said that a new act on the integration of immigrants and reception of asylum seekers would probably enter into force in May 1999. It
would provide for an integration benefit to be granted to the immigrant for a period of three years. As from 1 January 1998, the Asylum Appeals Board had been abolished and its duties had been vested to the provincial Administrative Court of southern Finland, the decisions of which could be appealed in front of the Supreme Administrative Court.
In order to combat racism and xenophobia, the Government had set up an independent commission, Mr. Aarnio went on to state. In the last two years, immigrants and other traditional minorities had been represented in the commission, both as members and experts. Also, the Advisory Board for Ethnic Relations had also been established by the Government with half of the members being new immigrants and from national minorities. A labour market section had been set up within the Board, consisting of representatives of the most important organizations of collective bargaining.
In conclusion, Mr. Aarnio said that due to the increased number of immigrants and to active drafting of legislation, education, information and campaigns, the public debate on this issue had become livelier and more fruitful. A large part of the population which had been silent about issues relating to racism was changing this attitude. Unfortunately, the activities of extreme racist groups had also become more visible, although the number of such groups was small. It was nevertheless crucially important that people were increasingly encouraged to raise their voices against racism, he said.
Discussion
MICHEL E. SHERIFIS, the Committee expert who served as country rapporteur to the report of Finland, acknowledged the steps taken by Finnish authorities to advance and modernize its human rights system. However, the absence of a law prohibiting and punishing racist organizations for activities which promoted and incited racial discrimination was to be regretted. Despite numerous legislative and administrative measures to combat racism, Finnish legislation fell short of the requirements of the Convention on the issue. Finland was obliged to comply with article 4 of the Convention on condemning all propaganda and all organizations which were based on ideas and theories of racial prejudice.
Mr. Sherifis said that it was to be regretted that the issue of land rights of the Sami people had not been as yet resolved. However, the recognition in the Constitution of the Sami and Roma peoples and of their rights to develop their language and culture was to be appreciated, although there appeared to be significant difficulties in the enjoyment and development of those rights. He further said that there was still a long way to go for the elimination of de facto discrimination against the Sami and Roma minorities, especially in the areas of housing, employment and social services.
Mr. Sherifis said that Finland was to be congratulated for its efforts to advance human rights and for measures it had taken in that direction. He noted, among the measures taken to promote racial tolerance, the establishment of a Parliamentary Ombudsman, the Ombudsman for Aliens, the Advisory Board for Refugees and Migrant Affairs, the introduction of a human rights curriculum in schools and the extension of the application of fundamental rights to non-citizens. He expressed the hope that Finland could become a model as a country of racial tolerance.
Other Committee experts also raised questions on issues concerning Sami and Roma peoples. Some experts said that those peoples were not fully enjoying their rights as minorities with respect to land rights and forests.
An expert said that there were certain racist groups in Finland with ultra-nationalist and racist characteristics. In its previous concluding remarks, the Committee had recommended that Finland adopt legislation which clearly prohibited and punished acts of racial discrimination and organizations that promoted and incited such racial discrimination.
Another expert was concerned about the application of the Aliens' Act of 1993 with regard to deportation of asylum seekers and the criteria of safe third countries. The expert recalled the cases of some Somalians who were deported from Finland, and wanted to know what criteria had been used to expel them to a third country.
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