Racism in Finland

A 2011 poll shows that 66% of Finnish respondents considered Finland to be a racist country but only 14% admitted to being racists themselves. Minority groups getting the most negative attitudes were Finnish Kale, Somalis and ethnic groups mostly consisting of Muslims.

In December 2012 the Finnish Police reported an increase in cases of racism and related physical abuse. In February 2013 researchers of racism and multiculturalism reported an increase in the number of threats and abuse. In January 2013 Save the Children reported that immigrant children are facing an increasing amount of racist abuse. In June 2011 a researcher reported an increase in the amount of racist violence targeting children and teenagers.

According to European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) of the Council of Europe, neither the Ombudsman for Minorities nor Advisory Board for Ethnic Relations have the financial and human resources to effectively perform according to their mandate. There is a National Non-Discrimination and Equality Tribunal, but it cannot order compensation to victims of racial discrimination. The legal provisions of the Aliens' Act are discriminatory and subject ethnic minorities to racial profiling by the police.

The majority of people in Finland are ignorant about issues concerning the Sami minority. Sami issues are not taught at school to a satisfactory level, according to ECRI. ECRI has criticized Finland for not having ratified the ILO-convention 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples.

The Somali community in Finland as well as the Finnish Roma face discrimination and racism. Russians in Finland are discriminated against in employment.

See also

Environmental racism in Europe
Finnish Resistance Movement

References

Works cited

 
Finland
Category:Racism in Europe