COMMITTEE ON ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION EXAMINES SITUATION IN FINLAND

7 March 1996

Press Release
RD/855

COMMITTEE ON ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION EXAMINES SITUATION IN FINLAND

19960307 Concludes General Discussion of United Kingdom Report

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this afternoon took up a report from Finland on the measures taken by the Government to implement the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Introducing the document, a representative of Finland's Ministry of Justice said the attitudes of Finns towards immigrants and refugees had become more and more negative among certain groups. The negative attitudes of young people were particularly alarming. However, young people were also the most tolerant age group. The Government of Finland had intensified its action against racism, he continued. Last January, the Government had appointed a working group composed of civil servants and the Minister of Culture to draw up a programme of action against racism and discrimination.

Also this afternoon, the Committee concluded its general discussion of the report of the United Kingdom. The expert panel will adopt observations on the implementation of the Convention in the United Kingdom later in this forty-eighth session.

Report of Finland

EERO J. AARNIO, Counsellor of Legislation, Ministry of Justice, introducing Finland's report (document CERD/C/240/Add.2), said the country had experienced a notable demographic change in less than 10 years. There were approximately 68,000 non-Finnish nationals residing in Finland, or 1.2 per cent of the population. The attitudes of Finns towards immigrants and refugees had become more and more negative, especially among "educational low-achievers", manual workers and farmers.

The Government of Finland had intensified its action against racism, he stated. Last January, the Government had appointed a working group composed of civil servants and the Minister of Culture to draw up a programme of action against racism and discrimination. A programme on immigration and refugee policy was simultaneously being prepared by a Committee appointed by the Ministry of the Interior. That work should be completed by the end of 1996.

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On 16 November 1994, he continued, the Government made a declaration under Article 14 of the Convention whereby it recognized the competence of the Committee to receive and consider individual communications. So far, the Government had not been asked to make its comments in relation to any communication. Finland had also ratified the European Charter for Regional Languages on 9 November 1994, and had signed the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities on 1 February 1995. Ratification of the Convention was being prepared.

Mr. AARNIO added that the Government had appointed a National Delegation against racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism in December 1994. The Delegation worked in connection with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The main duty of the Delegation was to increase awareness and sensitivity of decision makers and ordinary citizens to racism and intolerance and the importance of opposing them.

There had also been several new domestic developments in the legal protection of the indigenous Sami people in Finland. Responsibility for the coordination of Sami affairs had been passed from the Ministry of the Interior to the Ministry of Justice and the legal position of the Sami Parliament had been strengthened. The reform of the fundamental rights of the Constitution Act also included a section concerning the right of the Roma (Gypsy) to maintain and develop their own language and culture.

Discussion of Finland Report

MARIO JORGE YUTZIS, the country rapporteur for the report of Finland, expressed grave concern over acts of violence committed by "skinheads" against foreigners and persons on non-Finnish origin. He cited information telling of attacks against Zaireans, Somalis and Bangladeshis. In one incident last year, a senior Finnish official had complained of police passivity following an attack against a Zairean man. He drew attention to the situation prevailing in Jyväskylä, a small city in the centre of the country, where it was reported that "many young people were proud of assaulting foreigners". Some were afraid to walk the streets at night.

The country rapporteur requested further information regarding the legislation governing asylum and immigration procedures, including the process for the expulsion of rejected asylum seekers. What resources were set aside to ensure that the Sami could really use their own language in all fields? What measures were taken to protect indigenous peoples against the attempts of multinational companies to exploit their lands? He requested more information on the situation regarding the Roma, who seemed to be systematically targeted for arrest by the police. They also faced discrimination in employment due in part to their way of dress.

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Discussion of United Kingdom Report

At the start of the session, the Committee heard additional information on the application of the Convention in Hong Kong. STEVEN WONG, Principal Crown Counsel, Hong Kong Government, said in response to questions on the situation of Vietnamese asylum seekers that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Hong Kong Government and the United Kingdom Government devoted substantial efforts to assisting the return of the Vietnamese to their country, where their prospects for the future were better than in the camps. As for the situation in those camps, much work went into assuring the provision of essential services for residents. Concerning violence in the camps, law enforcement officials were at times forced to use tear gas to bring under control violent outbursts from persons who refused to return home.

The Government of Hong Kong felt that the present system for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms was effective, Mr. Wong added. The creation of a human rights commission did not seem necessary. Regarding the use of Chinese in the courts, he said all laws would be published in English and Chinese before 30 June 1997. The Government was determined to ensure the protection of human rights and the prevention of discrimination.

Commenting on the report, country rapporteur THEO VAN BOVEN, asked whether the delegation understood just how much the Committee was concerned by the question of immigration control. He was not satisfied with the answers provided by the delegation in that regard. Another member of the Committee said the delegation seemed to believe that problems of racial discrimination in the country were not serious. He had information that contradicted that belief. Mr. Van Boven said that the Committee and the delegation had different interpretations of certain provisions of the Convention.

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