Government appoints project group to oversee implementation of equality statement – implementation of measures under way in several ministries

The Government has set up a project to implement the equality statement submitted to Parliament earlier this year. The statement contains a number of measures to promote equality and combat racism in Finnish society. Many of them are based on the Government Programme, but the statement also includes new measures. A more detailed action plan for the project will be drawn up in spring 2024.

A topical knowledge base on discrimination and racism is being compiled to support the implementation. Some ministries have already begun the planning and background work for several of the measures. For example, International Holocaust Remembrance Day will from now on be observed in accordance with international practices.

Many of the measures included in the statement will continue throughout the government term, such as implementing the Government’s internal equality and gender equality training and taking into account equality and gender equality in the performance guidance of the ministries. 
The Prime Minister’s Office will launch an anti-racism campaign in cooperation with labour market, sports, cultural and non-governmental organisations. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo will lead annual roundtable discussions on promoting equality and non-discrimination with various actors in society. The first discussion will take place in spring 2024.

“Promoting equality and non-discrimination and eradicating racism in society requires a great deal of work over the long term. It is especially important to ensure that all of society is committed to these goals, because together we can bring about change. I am pleased that the work to implement the measures in the statement is progressing as planned,” says Prime Minister Petteri Orpo. 

A political steering group has been appointed for the project, consisting of State Secretaries Risto Artjoki (Prime Minister’s Office), Riikka Slunga-Poutsalo (Ministry of Finance), Mikaela Nylander (Ministry of Education and Culture) and Päivi Nerg (Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry). All ministries will be part of the cross-administrative project working group. The secretariat of the project will operate from the Prime Minister’s Office and will work in close cooperation with the Ministry of Justice, which is more broadly responsible for promoting equality in the Government.
The project will consult with a variety of stakeholders over the course of its work. The project will run until 31 March 2027. In its budget session, the Government decided to allocate EUR 6 million to the project. 

Inquiries: Katriina Nousiainen, Chief Specialist, Project Manager, Prime Minister's Office, tel. +358 295 160 735, [email protected] and Jouni Varanka, Director of Unit, Chair of the cross-administrative working group, Prime Minister’s Office, tel. +358 295 160 177, [email protected]