Helsinki, 24 July 2023
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo held discussions with the Government parties last week. The topics included the Government’s statement on promoting equality and non-discrimination in Finnish society to be submitted to Parliament in September.
The discussions laid the groundwork for the preparation of the statement and were an opportunity for the parties to express their wishes. The discussions will continue in August. According to Prime Minister Orpo, the parties have agreed that the working group appointed to prepare the statement will hear a wide range of stakeholders. In addition to the working group, the Government ministers will continue work on the matter. In August, the Government will organise an internal seminar on measures relating to the statement. The Government’s seminar will be held on 16 August.
“The Government will take determined measures to promote equality and non-discrimination. The statement will be prepared swiftly and thoroughly,” Orpo said.
On 17 July, the Government appointed a working group to prepare a statement on promoting equality and non-discrimination in Finnish society. The statement will also include proposals on how to promote action combating racism and anti-Semitism both in Finland and internationally. The term of the working group ends on 31 August 2023.
State Secretary Risto Artjoki (Prime Minister’s Office) is the Chair of the working group. State Secretary Riikka Slunga-Poutsalo (Ministry of Finance) is the Vice-Chair. The members of the working group are State Secretary Mikaela Nylander (Ministry of Education and Culture), State Secretary Päivi Nerg (Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry), Permanent Secretary Pekka Timonen (Ministry of Justice), Permanent Secretary Anita Lehikoinen (Ministry of Education and Culture), Permanent State Secretary Jukka Salovaara (Ministry for Foreign Affairs) and Permanent Secretary Veli-Mikko Niemi (Ministry of Social Affairs and Health).
Source – Finnish Government