Tackling discrimination
The Ombudsman has many different ways to promote equality and tackle discrimination. In practice the work involves counselling, investigating individual cases, promoting conciliation between the parties, providing training, gathering information, as well as influencing legislation and the practices of the authorities.
Discrimination
Discrimination is treating one person less favourably than others on the basis of a personal characteristic. All human beings are entitled to equal treatment, and discrimination is prohibited by many of our national laws, the Non-discrimination Act, the Criminal Code, as well as international human rights conventions.
Grounds for discrimination
Age, origin, nationality, language, religion, belief, opinion, political activity, trade union activity, family relationships, state of health, disability, sexual orientation and other personal characteristics are grounds for discrimination prohibited by the Non-discrimination Act.
Equality
In a just and fair society, person-related factors such as disability, sexual orientation or skin colour, should not impact a person’s access to education or services, or their job prospects. Fundamental rights belong to everyone.
Promotion of equality
The purpose of promoting equality is to prevent discrimination, ensure the de facto equality of all people and remove inequality due to discrimination in the society. The authorities, private parties with public administration duties, education providers and employers are obliged to promote equality in their activities.
Equality planning
Public authorities, private actors performing public administrative functions, education providers and employers must assess and promote equality in their activities and prepare equality promotion plans to promote equality.
Topics
Anyone can be discriminated against. Discrimination takes place in different areas of life and in many ways. Discrimination can take place for example in private services, health care, school, renting an apartment or in employment.
Related content
Equality
In a just and fair society, person-related factors such as disability, sexual orientation or skin colour, should not impact a person’s access to education or services, or their job prospects. Fundamental rights belong to everyone.
Equality means that all people are equal, irrespective of their age, ethnic or national origin, nationality, language, religion or belief, opinion, disability, health, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression or other personal characteristics.
In the Constitution of Finland, the principle of equality refers to both the prohibition of discrimination and equality of individuals before the law. The Non-Discrimination Act, Criminal Code, Act on Equality between Women and Men, and labour legislation contain more detailed provisions on the prohibition of discrimination in different areas of life.
Achieving substantive equality requires active efforts
People have different starting points and opportunities in society. Treating everybody the same does not always guarantee equality. In fact, achieving substantive equality requires active efforts to eliminate inequality based on discrimination, and this can be done by taking measures to promote equality, such as positive action. Achieving substantive equality also requires tackling indirect discrimination. Even if all people were treated the same, such treatment may indirectly discriminate against certain individuals. Thus, treating everybody in the same manner does not guarantee equality or non-discrimination.
Achieving substantive equality may therefore require positive action or for people with disabilities reasonable accommodations. The aim of the obligation imposed on certain actors in the Non-Discrimination Act to promote equality is also to achieve substantive equality.