The general principle of equality

This principle forbids arbitrary action – all citizens must be treated equally in equal cases.

People are equal before the law. Therefore no one must, without an acceptable reason, be treated differently from other persons on the ground of gender, age, origin, language, religion, conviction, opinion, health, disability or other reason that concerns their person.

Children must be treated equally and as individuals and they must be allowed to influence matters pertaining to themselves to a degree corresponding to their level of development.

Gender equality is promoted in societal activity and working life, especially in the determination of pay and other terms of employment, as provided in more detail by an act.

The right to one’s language and culture

The national languages of Finland are Finnish and Swedish. The right of everyone to use their own language, either Finnish or Swedish, before courts of law and other authorities, and to receive official documents in that language, is guaranteed by an act.

Public authorities must provide for the cultural and societal needs of the Finnish-speaking and Swedish-speaking populations of the country on an equal basis. These cultural rights set society the obligation to maintain, for example, Swedish-speaking schools, universities and other educational institutions.

The Swedish-speaking population of the Äland Islands enjoys special linguistic and cultural protection under the Act on the Autonomy of the Åland Islands This special protection goes considerably further than the protection guaranteed for the Swedish-speaking minority as a whole under the Constitution and the Language Act.

Minority rights

The Sami, as an indigenous people, as well as the Roma and other groups, have the right to maintain and develop their own language and culture. Provisions on the right of the Sami to use the Sami language before the authorities are laid down by an act.

The rights of persons using sign language and of persons in need of interpretation or translation aid owing to disability are guaranteed by an act. In addition to language, the rights of minorities also cover forms of culture such as traditional livelihoods, for example the reindeer herding of the Sami.

Minority rights set society the obligation to support the linguistic and cultural development of minorities. But, they do not provide minorities with the right to not follow the rules set by Finnish society.

Related links:
Non-Discrimination Act [Finlex.fi]
The Parliament [Åland Government and the Åland Parliament]
Advisory Board on Romani Affairs [Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Finland]
The National Coucil on Disability
Equality.fi

Updated on September 29, 2006