Ombudsman for Equality

Date established
01.01.1987
 
Mode of establishment
Act on the Ombudsman for Equality and the Equality Board
(http://www.tasa-arvo.fi/en/legislation/equality_ombudsman)
 
Status
The Ombudsman for Equality is an independent Authority while performing the legislative duties.
The Ombudsman is administratively located within the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.
 
Mandate/objectives
The Ombudsman for Equality is fully independent while performing her tasks. The tasks are:
- to supervise the compliance with the Equality Act (that is, the Act on equality between men and women), in particular the prohibitions of discrimination
- to promote the implementation of the purpose of the Act by initiative, advice and counselling
- to give information about equality legislation and its practical application;
- to follow-up the implementation of equality between women and men in almost all sectors of society.
 
Grounds of discrimination covered
Gender and gender minorities

Competences and responsibilities
The Ombudsman gives guidance and advise to those who suspect they have been discriminated against.
The Ombudsman may assist individuals in juridical proceedings if the Ombudsman considers the matter to be of considerable importance with regard to the application of the Act.
The Ombudsman may take a discriminatory action before the Equality Board, which may prohibit it under conditional fine, if necessary. The Board may prohibit the action and may impose a conditional fine, if necessary.

The Ombudsman may also take a case before the Equality Board if the obligation of carrying out an equality plan has been neglected. 
The Ombudsman has the right to carry out necessary inspections at a workplace, educational institution, organization representing labour market interests or premises of those providing goods and services  
The Ombudsman has extensive powers to get information necessary for the supervision of the compliance with the Equality Act.

Main activities
- The Ombudsman for Equality gives guidance to those who suspect they have been discriminated against. The Equality Act has a very extensive scope of application and so the requests for advice or an expert opinion may concern almost all areas of social life,
- The Ombudsman makes recommendations on issues relating to gender discrimination, e.g. on how to change discriminatory practices.
- The Ombudsman monitors the implementation of the obligation to carry out equality planning. In order to promote equality planning the Ombudsman also visits workplaces and educational institutions.
- The Ombudsman also informs about equality legislation and its implementation in practice; e.g. organizes seminars.

Publications

Annual Reports in brief (summaries)
Year 2008 , Year 2007 , Year 2005, Year 2004, Year 2003, Year 2002
    
Summaries of other publications
Twenty Years of the Act on Equality between Women and Men in Finland
 Gender equality planning in the public sector. Survey on the realisation of the planning obligation. Helsinki 2005.
 From Plans to Action. Report on Equality Planning at Workplaces in 2002.
 Juhana Vartiainen: Gender wage differentials in the Finnish labour market (Publications on equality 2002:2, pdf, 90 kB)

Management
The Ombudsman is a Head of the Office. The Ombudsman is appointed by the Council of State.
 
Nomination of senior staff and board
The staff of the Office of the Ombudsman for Equality is appointed either by the Council of State or by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.
 
Number of staff 

11
 
Budget
138,000 € (salaries of the staff and some supportive services not included)
 
Accountability
Report to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health annually.

Address
The Office of the Ombudsman for Equality
Snellmaninkatu 13
PO Box 33, FIN-00230 GOVERNMENT,
FINLAND
E-mail: tasa-arvo@stm.fi

Contact details

Anja Nummijärvi
Deputy director
anja.nummijarvi@stm.fi
+358 9 16073238

Miko Lempinen
Senior Officer
miko.lempinen@stm.fi
+358 9 74464

Further information
www.tasa-arvo.fi