WPC oO,xEYzvx*ȦG\GM~#mb sUkְ[Ȅ|=WK?i/}ǒ+|NvYmţ)[xw#-s~/cQcYjZq &Sts_iaðU|[^KCEiD02-%x闠 HGK~xqRKMc)IV<@CRfp@ya۬]i4].X 9;Q^#>Aļ ۚNř`_cK?OyfD,hV'|5}%U":n@ %E  0 0C9 D+| AM F 0:UFo7@qUFjj 0 0k 0="_ 0V 0%t 0 BE#b(#NK^ MwY4]q ms<6X9`("Courier 12cpi<6X9`("Courier 12cpid6X@8;@-A.UniversBoldScalable}p?7-A.UniversBoldScalablep?7,A.UniversBoldScalable  p?7 '   395-18131 2 ,HRI/CORE/1/Add.590ACF .10   Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5(2X$ !UKUS.,  TRX<6&X3' Letter 6&A43'T  33+B.++b >uQ!XB  ($     'dxd A<< c <  X"UKUS.,  33B.++b >uQ!XB  _i i_HRI_(2X$ !UKUS.,  TRX<6&X3' Letter 6&A43'T  33+B.++b >uQ!XB  -A.UniversBoldScalableWPC  9513 ,, !y}vH794?7463 52 51 40403/2/2.1.1- 0-0-0,/,/+?. . .  -  -  - ? ,  ,  ,  +  +? ? +  +  ?*  *  *  )  ?)  ) ?  )  ? )( ( ( ?( ' ?' ' ?' 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P HRI/CORE/1/Add.59     P page  2    (2X$ !UKUS.,  TRX<6&X3' Letter 6&A43'T  33+B.++b >uQ!XB  ($      $UKUS.,  33+B.++b >uQ!XB3333*X+Ҁ  *   B.++b >uQ!++7BӀAvailableforconsultationinthefilesoftheCentre  forHumanRights.(2$ !UKUS.,  TRX<6&X3' Letter 6&A43'T  33+B.++b >uQ!XB  3333*X+Ҁ  0  (!2$ !UKUS.,  TRX<6&X3' Letter 6&A43'T  33+B.++b >uQ!XB  3333*X+Ҁ  0  /#|d (t$UKUS.,  TRX<6&X3' Letter 6&A43'T  33+B.++b >uQ!XB dHP LaserJet 4P,,,,,,0!}. Jc.Oru' (IU !UKUS.,  TRX<6&X3' Letter 6&A43'T  33+B.++b >uQ!XB  _  R?+?'F dEF ??'QG dEQG ?_ ]MIz|_ p @X@E_X__  UNITED R NATIONS  _OKz|2n ` @X@E?2nJ?2n ]MIz|   p @X@E        ! ??++7! E +?    Distr. !     GENERAL       _HRI_/CORE/1/Add.59       30June1995        Original:ENGLISH  i  mm G @  COREDOCUMENTFORMINGPARTOFTHEREPORTSOFSTATESPARTIES K E.++b >uQ!??E@881FINLAND  L$[2May1995]  L$ParagraphsPage q 6"+ +j  a !#++76I.  LANDANDTHEPEOPLEaaKa.RR'N1   S !8""Y#2 O   A. j GeneralaaKa.& & N1   S !6""Y#2 -   B. j AshorthistoryaaKa.FF'N7   S !8""Y#2 ]  II.  CONSTITUTIONALBASISANDGENERALPOLITICAL ;!   STRUCTUREaaKa.j j QQM9  A A R !22""Y#3 *"    A. j GeneralaaKa.& & QQM9  A A R !12""Y#3 $ "   B. j ThenationallanguageaaKa.-L13  A A R !22""Y#3 %"$ -- III.  STATISTICALINFORMATIONaaKa.+L  23 ! !T !""Y#4 'r$& IV.  GENERALLEGALFRAMEWORKWITHINWHICHHUMANRIGHTS )P&(   AREPROTECTEDaaKa. !QQM24  A A R !39""Y#7 *?') V.  INFORMATIONANDPUBLICITYaaKa.-QQM40  A A R !45""Y#9 o,)+ ..+M.*GE.9518131(E) .+-   /,. _R}Z.++b >uQ!+ +j  a !Z@)I.LANDANDTHEPEOPLE F @pp/A.General $ 1. b Withatotalareaof338,145km2,Finlandistheseventhlargestcountry   inEurope.Thelongestdistancefromsouthtonorthis1,160kmandthe   greatestwidth540km.Itstotalfrontieris3,600kminlength:2,571km   arelandborders,586kmwithSweden,716kmwithNorway,and1,269kmwith   Russia.Thecoastlineisabout1,100kmlong.  x 2. b Approximately70percentofthelandsurfaceisforest,15percent V  cultivatedland,settlementorroadsand15percentlakesandwasteland,such E  asswamps,arcticfellsandsand. z4  3. b ThepopulationofFinlandin1992reachedthe5millionmark.The X  averagepopulationdensityis16.5inhabitants/km2,whichvariesfrom130in G theindustrializedsouthtobetween2and3inthesparselypopulatedregions 6 ofthenorth. % 4. b Finlandmaybeclassifiedasapost-industrialnation,andin1991an  estimated9percentofthepopulationderiveditslivelihoodfrom  agriculture,33percentfromindustryand58percentfromservices.  5. b TotheLutheranNationalChurchofFinlandbelong86.2percentofthe y population(4,375,047),totheGreekOrthodoxChurchinFinland1percentof h thepopulation(53,103)andtotheRomanCatholicChurchofthecountryonly W 0.1percentofthepopulation(5,300).Personswhoarenotmembersofany F religiousassociationscount11.7percent(596,324).SomeotherLutheranand {5 OrthodoxChurches,aswellasotherreligiousassociations,areactiveinthe j$ country. Y  6. b ThetwoofficiallanguagesinFinlandareFinnish(93.1percentofthe 7" population;4,727,290)andSwedish(5.82percent;295,630).TheSami &#  languageisspokenby1,738persons(0.03percent). $! @+B.Ashorthistory % # 7. b ThreeimportantdatesfromthewholeofFinland'spoliticalhistory '"% are1809,1917and1995.In1809,afteraperiodofabout600years,Finland (z#& ceasedtobetheeasternmostpartoftheKingdomofSwedenandbecamean )i$' autonomousgrandduchyundertheRussianCzar.On6December1917,Parliament *X%( proclaimedFinlandanindependentrepublic.BothSwedishandRussian +G&) dominationlefttheirmarkontherelationsbetweenFinland'shighestorgans |,6'* ofGovernment.FinlandbecameamemberoftheEuropeanUnionin1995. k-%(+ Ї8. b Finlandisaparliamentarydemocracybasedoncompetitionbetween F politicalparties,powerbeingdividedamongthehighestorgansofGovernment. 5    @t t II.CONSTITUTIONALBASISANDGENERALPOLITICALSTRUCTURE F @pp/A.General $ 9. b TheFinnishConstitutioncrystallizesthemainprinciplesofgovernment   inveryplainterms.PowerinFinlandisvestedinthepeople,whoare   representedbydeputiesassembledinParliament.Legislativepoweris   exercisedbyParliamenttogetherwiththePresidentoftheRepublic.The   supremeexecutivepowerisvestedinthePresident.Forthesupreme  x governmentoftheStatethereisalsoaCouncilofStateconsistingofa  g  PrimeMinisterandarequisitenumberofministers.Judicialpowerisvested V  inindependentcourtsoflaw,atthehighestlevelintheSupremeCourtand E  theSupremeAdministrativeCourt. z4  10. b TheConstitutionofFinlandisbaseduponcertainfundamentallawsandto X  someextentuponcustomarylaw.Theprincipalfundamentallawisthe G ConstitutionAct,of17July1919.ThisActdeterminesthebasicdemocratic 6 principlesuponwhichtheStateofFinlandisorganized,thefundamental % rightsandfreedomsofthecitizens,andthecompetenceandmutualrelations  oftheprincipalorgansoftheState.Thecompositionandthefunctionofthe  representativeassembly,Parliament,arelaiddownintheParliamentActof  13January1928,assubsequentlyamended.Inaddition,therearetwoActsof  25November1922,whichhavethestatusoffundamentallaw.Oneconcernsthe  rightofParliamenttoreviewthelegalityofofficialactionstakenby y cabinetministersandbytheChancellorofJustice,andtheotherthe h compositionandcompetenceoftheHighCourtofImpeachment. W 11. b Furthermore,theProvinceofland,thelandislands,enjoysan {5 internationallyguaranteedautonomygrantedin1921.Theautonomyis j$ specifiedinfundamentallaws,theAutonomyActs,thelatestofwhichwas Y  enactedin1991andenteredintoforceatthebeginningof1993. H! 12. b Forthepurposeoflocaladministration,Finlandisdividedinto &#  provincesandtheseagainintourbanandruralmunicipalities,eachhavingits $! owngovernment.Eachmunicipalityhasarepresentativecouncil,themembers %" ofwhichareelectedbythepeopleoftherespectivemunicipalitybygeneral % # suffrage. &!$ @'B.Thenationallanguages (z#& 13. b AccordingtotheConstitutionofFinland(1919)thenationallanguagesof *X%( theRepublicareFinnishandSwedish.However,Swedishisspokenonlybya +G&) minorityof5.8percentofthepopulation.Bilingualismandthespecial |,6'* positionofSwedisharebasedonthefactthatFinland,until1809,wasan k-%(+ integralpartoftheKingdomofSweden.Forthemostpartthe F Swedish-speakingpopulationisconcentratedalongthesouthernandwestern 5 coasts. $ 14. b TherightsofFinnishcitizenstousetheirmothertongue,whether   FinnishorSwedish,beforecourtsandadministrativeauthoritiesare   guaranteedbytheConstitutionandthespecialLanguageAct(1922).These   rightsoftheFinnish-speakingandtheSwedish-speakingpopulationsmustbe    putintoeffectinaccordancewiththeprincipleofequality.Thecultural F andeconomicneedsofbothoftheselanguagegroupsshallbemetbytheState 5 inaccordancewiththesameprinciple. $ 15. b Lawsanddecrees,governmentbillstoParliament,aswellastheofficial   communicationsofParliamenttotheGovernment,shallbedrawnupinFinnish   andSwedish.   16. b AccordingtotheLanguageAct,amunicipalityisunilingualifthe  x minoritywhichspeakstheothernationallanguagedoesnotattain8percent  g  (or3,000persons).Iftheminorityexceedsthat,themunicipalityis V  bilingual.Abilingualmunicipalityshall,however,notbedeclared E  unilingualbeforetheminorityhasdroppedbelow6percent. z4  17. b InaccordancewiththeConstitution,Governmentmaintainseducational X  establishmentsofmanykinds,fromprimaryandsecondaryschoolstovarious G formsofprofessionalandadulteducation,inbothofthenationallanguages. 6 Someuniversitiesaretosomedegreebilingual.Oneofthem,boAkademi(in % Turku),hasSwedishasitslanguageofinstruction.  18. b TheSwedishnewspapers,aswellasradioandtelevisionprogrammes,have  alongtraditioninFinland.  19. b TheautonomylegislationoftheProvinceofland,thelandislands, y containssomeprovisionswhichguaranteethedominanceofSwedishinland. h Thereareabout23,000Swedish-speakingpeopleinlandrepresenting W 95percentofthepopulationoftheProvince. F 20. b TheSamilanguageisspokenbytheSamisortheLapps,consideredasan j$ indigenouspeopleinFinland.Thereareapproximately6,400Samisinthe Y  countryandthisrepresents0.1percentofthetotalpopulation.Mostofthe H! SamisliveinLaplandinthenorthofFinland. 7" 21. b TherearethreedifferentSamidialectsinFinland.MostoftheSamis $! speakNorthernSami.TheothertwodialectsspokeninFinlandareInariSami %" andSkoltSami. % # 22. b ForpreservingSamicultureandsafeguardingtheirlinguisticrights,the '"% SamiDelegation(SamiParliament)hasdrawnupabill(1987)forthe (z#& utilizationoftheSamilanguagebeforeauthorities.In1990thebillwas )i$' passedbyParliamentandtheActcameintoforceatthebeginningof1992. *X%( @&III.STATISTICALINFORMATION |,6'*  k-%(+ 23. b Thefollowingstatisticalinformationispresentedaccordingtothe F consolidatedguidelinesfortheinitialpartofthereportsofStatesparties. 5 Annexedtothisreportisthe"StatisticalYearbookofFinland1994*!   *     .The $ referencestothepagesoftheYearbookinthetextofthisreportaretobe  foundinparenthesesaftereachpassage.Formoredetailedinformation,see   thereferredpagesoftheYearbook.    Economicdata F '++/[7++7'Nationalincome $ (Percapitaincome)0/72337 [ Fmk  (1993) 7 (p.275)  0/22980 [ US$  (1992) 7 (p.600)   GrossdomesticproductSS'/478656000000 [ Fmk  (1993) 7 (p.270)   SS'/116309000000 [ US$  (1992) 7 (p.602)   ' ++S++/['Inflation S 1.1%(1994)  g  '++/[7++( 'NetforeigndebtSS'/265117000000 [ Fmk  (1993) 7 (p.222) E  (Externaldebt) z4  0++h[7++/[0Rateofunemployment h 444000  (1993) [ 17.9% 7 (p.607) X  Religion % Populationbyreligiousaffiliationandsexatend-year1993  LutheranNationalChurch1993  3++ {M++h[3 Total*4375047<{86.2% y  Males*2066747<{83.7% h  Females*2308300<{88.5% W GreekOrthodoxChurchinFinland1993 {5  Total-53103={1.0% Y   Males-24250={1.0% H!  Females-28853={1.1% 7" RomanCatholicChurchinFinland1993 $!  Total.5300={0.1% % #  Males.2572={0.1% &!$  Females.2728={0.1% '"%   (z#& &   Personsnotmembersofanyreligiousassociations1993 F  TotalGG,596324<{11.7% $  MalesGG,355498   FemalesGG,240826    'FDN.++b >uQ!++ {NN b Otherreligiousassociationsare:otherLutheranChurches,other   OrthodoxChurches,Jehovah'sWitnesses,FreeChurchinFinland,Adventist   Churches,ChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,Baptistcongregations,  x MethodistChurches,Jewishcongregations,Islamiccongregations.  g  (Seeformoredetailedinformationp.93oftheYearbook.) E  b}&  Population i#  *++ M++7*Populationbylanguageatend-year1993=  (p.84) G 'iEH Finnish*4727290##;93.1% %  SwedishGG,295630<5.82%   Lappish.1738<0.03%   Other-53254<1.05%  Populationbysexatend-year19933=  (p.82)   Men*2470200 h  Women*2607700 W Lifeexpectancy19923=  (pp.111and112) {5 Infantmortality(1992)3=  (p.105) Y   Confinementstotal-66089 7"  Births-67019 &#   Stillbirths0288<4.3% $! Fertilityrates(1992)3=  (p.108) % # Generalfertilityrate:52.7/1,000womenofchildbearingage. '"% Age-specificfertilityrates3=  (p.108) )i$' Maternalmortality(1993):2 +G&) Percentageofpopulationunder15andover65yearsofage(1993) k-%(+  Z.), under15yearsofage F  WholepopulationGG,970700 $  MenGG,495800   WomenGG,474900   over65yearsofage    WholepopulationGG,706200  x  MenGG,257300  g   WomenGG,448900=  (p.82) V  Populationinurbanmunicipalities(1993)325300064.1% z4   Men*2470200=  (p.49) X  Populationinruralmunicipalities182490035.9% 6 Femalesper1,000malesinurbanmunicipalities:1094  Ѐinruralmunicipalities:991  Ѐinthewholecountry:1056   N.++b >uQ!++ NN}b@ IV.GENERALLEGALFRAMEWORKWITHINWHICH F [ [ HUMANRIGHTSAREPROTECTED 5 24. b InFinlanddomesticcourtsandauthoritiesapplyinternationalhuman  rightsinstrumentsasdomesticlaws.Thesupervisionoftheobservanceof   humanrightsintheuseofpublicauthorityiswithinthecompetenceofthe   ParliamentaryOmbudsmanandtheChancellorofJustice(oftheCouncilof   State).Atthelegislativestageitisespeciallythedutyofthe   ConstitutionalLawCommitteeofParliamenttosupervisetheobservanceof  x humanrights.  g  25. b Anindividualwhoclaimsthatanyofhishumanrightshasbeenviolated E  mayappealtothecourtinanormalway.Ifthedecisionofanauthorityis z4  consideredtobeagainstthehumanrightsprovisions,thedecisionshallbe i#  repealed.Also,theextraordinaryrightofappeal(ylimrinen X  muutoksenhaku)canbeused. G 26. b Theinjuredpartyisentitledtodemandpaymentofdamagesinthecourt % accordingtothenormalprinciplesoftheActonCompensationforDamages  (vahingonkorvauslaki).Also,criminalproceedingscanbebroughtagainstthe  civilservantwhoviolatedthehumanrights.  27. b AccordingtotheConstitution(sect.93.2),citizenscanalsomakea  complainttotheChancellorofJustice,ParliamentaryOmbudsmanortoahigher y authority. h 28. b ChapterIIoftheConstitutionActcontainsmostoftheprovisionsofthe F fundamentalrightsofcitizens:equalityofcitizens(sect.5);protectionof {5 life,honour,personallibertyandpropertyandrighttowork(sect.6); j$ freedomofmovement(sect.7);freedomofreligion(sects.8-9);freedomof Y  speechandfreedomtofoundassociations(sect.10);inviolabilityofdomestic H! peace(sect.11);secrecyofpostal,telegraphandtelephonecommunications 7" (sect.12);legaljurisdiction(sect.13);righttouseone'sownnative &#  language,whetherFinnishorSwedish,beforeacourtoflaworan $! administrativeauthority(sect.14);prohibitiontoconfertitlesofnobility %" orotherhereditarydignity(sect.15). % # 29. b Theprovisionsareundergoingreform;agovernmentproposal '"% (No.309/1993)wasgiventotheParliamentin1993andtheActsareintended (z#& toenterintoforceimmediatelyontheirapprovalbythenewParliamentin )i$' 1995.Theproposaliscloselylinkedtotheinternationalhumanrights *X%( treatiesbindingFinland.Thereformisaimedattheapproximationofthe +G&) domesticsystemoffundamentalrightstotheinternationalobligationsof |,6'* humanrights.Thegeneralreformofthelegislationonfundamentalrights k-%(+ wouldmodernizeandspecifythesystemoffundamentalrightsofFinland;the F fundamentalrightswould,asageneralrule,applytoallpersonsunderthe 5 jurisdictionoftheGovernmentofFinland.ThepresentConstitutionmentions $ only"therightsofaFinnishcitizen".  30. b Itisalsoproposedthatthescopeoffundamentalrightsregulatedinthe   ConstitutionActshouldbeextendedtocoveralsoeconomic,socialand   &  culturalrights;rightsrelatingtotheindividual'slegalsafety;theright   tovoteandtobeelected;therighttoparticipate;andrightsconcerningthe  x environment.  g  ' b31. b ThenewfundamentalrightssafeguardedinchapterIIoftheConstitution E  Actwouldbethefollowing:equalityofhumanbeings(sect.5);rightto z4  life,personalfreedom,integrityandsecurity;prohibitionofdeathsentence, i#  tortureandtreatmentviolatinghumandignity(sect.6);prohibitionof X  retroactivecriminallawandtheprincipleoflegalityofcriminallaw G (sect.6(a));freedomofmovement(sect.7);protectionofprivacy,honour 6 anddomesticpeace;secrecyofpostal,telephoneandmessagecommunication % (sect.8);freedomofreligionandconscience(sect.9);freedomofspeechand  righttogetinformationonpublicdocument(sect.10);freedomofassembly  anddemonstration;freedomofassociation(sect.10(a));righttovote,tobe  electedandtoparticipate(sect.11);protectionofproperty(sect.12);  righttoeducationandculture(sect.13);linguisticrights;righttouse  one'sownnativelanguage,whetherFinnishorSwedish,beforeacourtoflaw y oranadministrativeauthority;rightofSami,Romanyandothergroupsto h theirownlanguageandculture;rightsofusersofsignlanguage(sect.14); W provisiononenvironment;responsibilityfornatureandenvironment, F guaranteeingofhealthyenvironment(sect.14(a));righttoworkand {5 protectionofthelabourforce(sect.15);socialrights;righttonecessary j$ livelihoodandcare,guaranteeingofbasiclivelihoodandsocialandhealth Y  services,promotingofthehealthofthepopulation,supportingthosewhoare H! responsibleforthecareofthechild,promotingofhousing(sect.15(a)); 7" legalsafeguardsofadministrationandapplicationoflaw(sect.16). &#  32. b Thereformstrivesforincreaseddirectapplicabilityoffundamental %" rightsbeforecourtsandotherauthoritiesbywritingtheprovisionson % # fundamentalrightsinamoreexactway,forexample.Inaddition,theaimis &!$ totightentheconditionsofrestrictingfundamentalrightsandtoclarifythe '"% systemofsupervisionoffundamentalrightsbyincludingbasicprovisions (z#& concerningthemintheConstitution. )i$' 33. b Accordingtosection16oftheConstitutionActinforce,itispossible +G&)  toprescribebyActofParliamentsuchrestrictionstotherightsofFinnish |,6'* citizensasarenecessaryintimesofwarorrebellionandwhicharein F conformitywiththeinternationalhumanrightsobligationsbindingFinland. 5  34. b Therelationshipbetweendomesticandinternationallawisgenerally  understoodashavingbeenresolvedaccordingtothedualisticmodel.Themost   frequentlyusedmethodofimplementinginternationaltreatiesinFinlandis   incorporationeitherthroughanActofParliamentoradecreeinblanco.The   hierarchicalstatusoftheincorporatingenactmentdeterminestheformalrank   ofaninternationalagreement.AccordingtotheConstitutionAct,treaties  x withforeignpowersmustbeapprovedbytheParliamentinsofarasthey  g  containprovisionswhichpertaintolegislation. V  35. b TheInternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRightsaswellasthe z4  mainhumanrightsinstrumentsoftheCouncilofEuropewereapprovedbythe i#  Parliament.Someofthehumanrightstreaties,e.g.theInternational X  CovenantonEconomic,SocialandCulturalRights,theConventionandProtocol G relatingtotheStatusofRefugeesandtheInternationalConventiononthe 6 EliminationofAllFormsofRacialDiscrimination,wereoriginally % incorporatedthroughagovernmentdecreeonly.Butthisproblemismitigated  byinterpretingdomesticstatutesinordertoavoidconflictsbetweendomestic  lawandhumanrightsinstruments.  36. b Itispossibletoreferdirectlytotheprovisionsofthehumanrights  treatiesbeforecourtandauthorities,inthesamewayasnationallaws. y 37. b TheParliamentaryOmbudsmanwasthefirstFinnishauthoritytouse W systematicallyinternationalhumanrightstreatiesindecision-making.During F thelastfewyearsFinnishjudgeshavebecomeawareoftheexistenceand {5 applicabilityofhumanrightsinstruments.Agrowingcase-lawhasbeen j$ emerging,andnowhumanrightstreatiesareinvokedbycourtsclearlymore Y  oftenthanconstitutionalprovisions.Themainemphasisinthehumanrights H! treatyapplicationbytheSupremeCourthasbeenontheissuesrelatedto 7" criminalprocedureandarticle14oftheICCPR. &#  38. b TheConstitutionalLawCommitteeofParliamenthaspointedoutthat %" "internationalcontractualobligationsmustbetakenintoconsiderationinthe % # practicallegislativeworkandactionofauthorities....Intheviewofthe &!$ Committee,alsoinlegislativeworkmoreattentionshouldbepaidtothehuman '"% rightstreatiesbindingFinland". (z#& 39. b TheParliamentaryOmbudsmanandtheChancellorofJusticeareresponsible *X%( foroverseeingtheimplementationofhumanrights.Accordingtothereformof +G&) thefundamentalrightsprovisionsoftheConstitution,theConstitutionalLaw |,6'* CommitteeofParliamenthastoobservethatgovernmentbillsareinconformity k-%(+ withthefundamentalrightsoftheConstitutionandwiththeinternational F humanrightsinstruments. 5 @&V.INFORMATIONANDPUBLICITY  40. b TheFinnisheducationalsystemhasincreasinglyreplacedregulations   basedonlegalnormsandinstructionswithdirectionsbasedontheprovision   ofinformation.Thisallowsindividualschoolsmorefreedomtodecideon   curriculaandteachingmaterials.Thenationalreviewandapprovalsystemfor  x teachingmaterialshasbeeneliminated.Asaresult,comprehensivedataon  g  theresultsofteachingaboutequalityinschoolsarenotavailable.However, V  theNationalBoardofGeneralEducationiscurrentlypreparinganational E  evaluationofthecomprehensiveschoolsystem,includingimplementationof z4  humanrightsandequality. i#  41. b Thebasiccriteriaforthecurriculaofcomprehensiveschoolsandupper G secondaryschoolswereconfirmedinJanuary1994.Theystatethatan 6 importantstartingpointfortheestablishmentofacurriculumistheneedto % provideaclearlydefinedsetofvaluesandanawarenessofthosevalues.For  settingthegoalsofteachingthebasiccriteriastatethattheelementsof  thevaluesessentialforourtimederivenotonlyfromtheclassicfundamental  valuesbutespeciallyfromrespectforhumandignityandforlife,as  manifestedinuniversaldeclarations,recommendationsandtreatiesaimedat  fosteringhumanrightsandtheviabilityoftheglobe.Equalitybetweenhuman y &  beings,regardlessofsex,race,healthoraffluence,maybechosenasa h startingpoint,alongwiththepreservationoflifeontheglobeinallits W diversity. F '42. b TheNationalBoardofGeneralEducationhasconfirmedanationalplan j$ for1994and1995onequalityineducationtobeusedincurricular Y  &  developmentandpedagogicalpracticesforlocalandschoollevels.Theplan H! requiresthatthecurriculaandteachingmaterialstakeanapproachwhich 7" activelypromotesgenderequality. &#  'H!H43. b ThetextsofallhumanrightstreatiesratifiedbyFinlandhavebeen %" publishedasofficialpublications(treatyseries)inbothnationallanguages, % # FinnishandSwedish,aswellasinEnglishandFrench.Someofthesehave &!$ alsobeenincludedinthecollectionoflawscalled"TheLawofFinland". '"% Referenceismadetorelevanthumanrightstreatiesundervariousheadingsin (z#& thiscollection. )i$' 44. b In1994,acollectionofalargenumberofhumanrightstexts,both +G&) treatiesandotherinstruments,waspublishedinFinnishbyahumanrights |,6'* organization.Thisvolumeisnowavailabletofacilitatepublicinformation k-%(+ throughlibrariesandasareferencebookforresearchers,activistsandthe F media. 5 45. b Thereportingsystemofsomerecenthumanrightstreatiessuchasthe  ConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofDiscriminationagainstWomenand   theConventionontheRightsoftheChildhasbeenusedasaninstrumentfor   informationandeducationforthegeneralpublicaswellasforgovernmentand   localofficials.ThesereportshavebeenpublishedbothinFinnishandin   English.Trainingseminarshavebeenorganizedusingthesereportsastools  x forbuildingamoreresponsiveenvironmentfortheactivepromotionofhuman  g  rights. V  @2