Legislative Basis for Feminism in Finland at the Present Time

The chapter focuses on the legislative framework pertaining to feminism in Finland. Finland, being a welfare state, actively promotes the concept of gender equality. The country has achieved a high level of gender equality due to the long history of Finnish women fighting discrimination. In addition to the influence of feminist organizations, Finland has implemented various legal frameworks to ensure gender balance, which plays a crucial role in eliminating gender discrimination. Government agencies in Finland have been developing and adopting laws and conventions related to the position of women in society for several decades. At present, gender equality in Finland is safeguarded by key legislation such as the Act on Equality between Women and Men, the Non-discrimination Act, and the Employment Contracts Act. Notably, Finland has ratified the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the International Labour Organization Convention on Equal Remuneration for Men and Women for Work of Equal Value. Finland has also adopted UN General Assembly declarations on the elimination of all forms of violence against women. To oversee compliance with equality laws, Finland has appointed an Equality Ombudsman, who works in conjunction with the National Discrimination and Equality Tribunal.