The Non-Discrimination Ombudsman

The Non-Discrimination Ombudsman is an autonomous and independent authority. The task of the Ombudsman is to promote equality and to prevent discrimination. The Ombudsman also supervises removal from the country and is the National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings. The Ombudsman further works towards improving the rights and status of foreign nationals.

Our work

The Non-Discrimination Ombudsman has many tasks. The common nominators for the different tasks are monitoring and promoting fundamental and human rights.

The Non-Discrimination Ombudsman

The Non-Discrimination Ombudsman is an autonomous and independent authority. Current Ombudsman is Kristina Stenman.

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News

Kela, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland, discriminated against a person with impaired hearing by denying a reasonable accommodation in Kela's interpreting services

11.7.2023 9.17

A person with impaired hearing entitled to an interpreting service applied to Kela, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland, for a change in the contents…

20.6.2023 14.46

The Non-Discrimination Ombudsman’s helpline and chat’s summer opening times

15.5.2023 11.16

The Non-Discrimination Act is changing on 1 June 2023 – amendments improve the legal protection of discrimination victims

27.4.2023 10.29

Status of human trafficking victims must be improved in the coming government term – Non-Discrimination Ombudsman's recommendations for the government programme

25.4.2023 10.51

The rights of the child must be realised in full in matters involving foreign nationals – the Ombudsman's recommendations for improving the status of foreign nationals for the government programme

Blog

Anni Valovirta, Senior Officer, reporting on trafficking in human beings

A residence permit safeguards victims of human trafficking in a vulnerable position – the threshold for granting the permit must be lowered

Anni Valovirta 18.10.2022 9.51

Trafficking in human beings is a serious crime targeting individuals and, simultaneously, affecting the entirety of society. Combating human trafficking,…

Jani Hannonen 16.11.2021 10.59

What is the principle of non-punishment of victims of trafficking in human beings?

Heini Kainulainen, forskare & Anni Valovirta, överinspektör 18.10.2021 10.56

The Aliens Act is not used often enough to protect victims of human trafficking

Joonas Rundgren 4.8.2021 9.06

Finland has room for improvement in protecting the best interests of the child in immigration policies

Elina Castrén 14.7.2021 9.00

Improvements needed for identifying persons in a vulnerable position in connection with removal from the country

Press releases

Study: Identification of victims of human trafficking compelled to criminal activity must be improved

1.9.2022 8.31

The Non-Discrimination Ombudsman has conducted a study on the realisation of the principle of non-punishment of victims of human trafficking in Finland. The…

16.6.2022 9.30

Company discriminated against a job applicant on the basis of nationality – paid EUR 6,500 in compensation

31.3.2022 8.46

Discrimination is deeply embedded in the structures of our society – The Non-Discrimination Ombudsman proposes amendments to legislation to improve equality and fundamental rights

28.9.2021 10.01

Report: The special provision on trafficking in human beings is rarely used as grounds for a victim’s residence permit

18.3.2021 13.35

Residence permit practices concerning victims of human trafficking are being reviewed