ETNO Declaration on the wellbeing of unaccompanied minors

The Advisory Board for Ethnic Relations ETNO wishes to draw the attention of authorities to certain important questions related to the wellbeing of minors who have arrived in Finland unaccompanied. ETNO recommends:

• possibilities for family reunification by unaccompanied minors must be improved and obstacles hindering the process be removed. The Advisory Board emphasises that family reunification must be preserved as a safe legal channel for entering Finland.
• aftercare must be consistent and provided over the long term, irrespective of the person’s municipality of residence. The Advisory Board states that authorities, and other professionals, involved in aftercare activities should be trained to encounter and deal with young people who have sought asylum.

The Advisory Board emphasises that the best interests of the child must always be given priority in all decisions and measures concerning children and young people who have arrived in Finland as unaccompanied minors.

Read the complete declaration here.

Advisory Board for Ethnic Relations publishes a report on strengthening the sense of belonging among multicultural youth in Finland

The Advisory Board for Ethnic Relations (ETNO) has published a report entitled Right to belong – Proposals for strengthening the sense of belonging among multicultural youth in Finnish society. The report proposes measures to support the construction of identity and strengthen the sense of belonging among multicultural youth. The report identifies factors that affect the lives of especially multicultural youth and includes suggestions to strengthen their position.

 

The publication is available in:

• Finnish
• Swedish
• English
• Russian

Statement of opinion by the advisory board for ethnic relations on international women's day 8 march 2019

The Advisory Board for Ethnic Relations ETNO wants to hand out a rose on International Women’s Day to all women in Finland, especially to immigrant women. These women work in different professions, care for their families, pass on cultural heritage from one generation to another and participate in different ways in society. However, there are a number of obstacles on their path. ETNO calls upon various actors and communities in society to identify and tackle these obstacles as well as to strengthen women's participation and integration.

Read the entire statement here.

Forum for Ethnic Relations 2018

Tuesday 22 May 2018

Helsinki, Vanha ylioppilastalo

Program

Forum for Ethnic Relations 2017

The Forum for Ethnic Relations 2017 was organised in Helsinki on 1 June 2017 around the theme “Civil peace now! – Good Relations in Finland”. A report describing the key contributions of the event is available in Finnish.

How can good relations between population groups safeguard civil peace in Finland?

What are the components of civil peace and trust in the democratic system?

What kinds of good relations policies are pursued in Finland – or are they?

A survey of good relations between population groups in Finland was also published during the forum.

“How are we doing? A survey of good relations between population groups in Finland, with focus on municipalities with reception centres for asylum seekers.”

The survey is available in Finnish.