1.6. Equality and discrimination

Equality

The base on equal treatment among people is regulated by legislation in Finland. The most important laws that rule the position of asylum seekers are:

• “Reception law” = The law regulating the international protection of human beings and the victim of human trafficking 746/2011.The law of equality: Yhdenvertaisuuslaki 1325/2014.
• The law about foreigners (Ulkomaalaislaki 301/2004). The law rules the conditions of entering the country, visas, the conditions of staying in a country, working, international protection, deportation from the country, the practice of security.

You can find comprehensive Finnish legislation in Finlex.fi. (Finlex is an online database of up-to-date legislative and other judicial information of Finland. Finlex is owned by Finland’s Ministry of Justice).

The position of an asylum seeker is regulated by the following international agreements, which Finland has ratified

• European Convention on Human Rights
• United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,
• Convention on the Rights of the Child
• Geneva Convention on Refugees and the right to seek asylum in the European Union.

Discrimination

The attitudes toward asylum seekers and immigrants vary in Finland. Some people deal in a very positive way to immigration when others may have different concerns, even negative and stereotypical ideas.

The Constitutional law of Finland prohibits discrimination. Discrimination in any way is considered as a crime.
Ethnic discrimination means:

• People are treated differently based on the idea that they belong to different ethnic or national group than the major population.
• People are positioned differently based on their religion; a color of the skin or by their nationality.
• Creating threatening, hostile, degrading or humiliating atmosphere.
• Direct orders or command from the others than authorities are discrimination.

Harsh cases of discrimination proceed to the prosecutor. The crime will be reported to the police.

• Foreigners can seek help from Victim´s support Finland: “criminal victims´ emergency online”.
• Nollalinja.
• Helpline: 116 006 (free of charge).
• Lawyers advise (free of charge) 0800 161 177.

Non-Discrimination Ombudsman

Phone 0295666817. The client service is during workdays 10-12.

You can contact a non-discrimination ombudsman if you have suffered discrimination or noticed discrimination around you in the following cases:

• Discrimination based on age, the origin of country or culture, nationality, language, religion, values and beliefs, opinion, political activity or activity in a trade union, family relations, health, disablement, sexual orientation or other reasons related to the person.
• Non-discrimination Ombudsman´s duty is advance those groups conditions, rights and a position which are in danger to be discriminated.
• The authority controls foreigners´ deportation from the country and acts as a reporter of human trafficking
• He/she gives advice in cases of discrimination and how to make a notice to the police when facing discrimination

The authorities of Occupational Safety and Health Administration web site help if there discrimination is faced at work organizations.

The authorities of Occupational Safety and Health Administration web site help if there discrimination is faced at work organizations.

The notification form of discrimination

Rights and duties of asylum seekers

Services at the reception centers include:

• accommodation,
• reception allowance,
• social and health services, interpretations and translation services,
• work and study activities. (Finnish immigration services)
• sometimes meal services are arranged.

Source: Finnish Immigration service

Meaning of these services are to fulfill the basic need. The right for these services are available during the residence permit applying the process.

Some educational institutions may demand a permit to stay in the country.

Asylum seekers don´t have a right for family member reunion. The family members can´t get a permit to move to Finland because of the family tights.

Asylum seekers can´t get those benefits allowed to citizens for. ex. benefits from National Social security insurance (Kela). After getting the residence permit, the asylum seeker is allowed to get Kela benefits too.

Working in Finland according to the Finnish immigration services

• The right to work after 3 months of staying in Finland if you have necessary travel documents as passport with you.
• The right to work after 3 months of staying in Finland if you don´t have the necessary travel documents with you