Project Rainbow Rights of the Ministry of Justice seeks to promote non-discrimination in Finland and the Baltic region
Published 21.4.2017
The Finnish Ministry of Justice has launched a project called Rainbow Rights Promoting LGBTI Equality in Europe, which aims to support the implementation of the legislation on non-discrimination. The project seeks to promote non-discrimination at local level both in Finland and in other EU Member States.
In addition to the general aim of promoting non-discrimination, the project strives to raise awareness of non-discrimination and multiple discrimination against LGBTI groups. LGBTI is an initialism used for sexual and gender minorities and it stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex. In the course of the project, different kinds of training sessions, local campaigns, seminars and surveys will be carried out.
The Ministry of Justice of Finland implements the project Rainbow Rights in cooperation with the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities, Seta - LGBTI Rights in Finland, and Lithuanian Gay League. The Ministry has the overall responsibility for coordinating and managing the project, in addition to which it will conduct a survey on multiple discrimination and produce training materials for the purpose of promoting non-discrimination. The project also implements certain objectives set out in Finland’s national action plan on fundamental and human rights 2017-2019.
Within the project Rainbow Rights, non-discrimination in the Baltic region will mainly be promoted through international learning and exchange of experiences. Events intended for authorities and organisations will also be arranged in Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia, for example a Baltic-Finland event in Riga in connection with the Baltic Pride 2018 event. Attitudes towards LGBTI groups in the Baltic States are more negative than in many other EU countries.
The project Rainbow Rights continues the work against discrimination that has been carried out in Finland since 2001 as cooperation between different ministries and organisations and with the support of EU funding. The ongoing project receives funding under the European Commission’s Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme 2014-2020.
Inquiries:
Krista Nuutinen, Project Manager, Ministry of Justice,
tel. +358 295150074,
e-mail: [email protected]
Project Rainbow Rights gathered in the Ministry of Justice in Finland in 21.4.2017. In the picture from the left Vladimir Simonko, Eduardas Platovas, Krista Nuutinen, Katriina Nousiainen, Sinikka Mikola, Johanna Laaja, Silja Kanerva, Terhi Aaltonen and Panu Artemjeff.
