WPC_ T 1;/dƺk 1; y"QT-B{ālLdٙB>x@cIZUB"߷h ND2DO9>WZ㗥28Q%V'P|앣Tل@ѿ$o4TYm5Ei'rw6-:Ts=IcyT'E"$ 0U 0C? D+ AM 0UUno @aURUjYj 0UA 0UY 0= 0"Z| B#UNj %( 0:N ^ "w.42F mH Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5(-3$  \!CEUS.,  ($     'dxdA<< c "CEUS.,  _6XX 6_HRI_(-2$  \!CEUS.,  --}p?7-p?7,  p?7 <6X`(d6X@8;@WPC  9513 ,, !y}vH794?7463 52 51 40403/2/2.1.1- 0-0-0,/,/+?. . .  -  -  - ? ,  ,  ,  +  +? ? +  +  ?*  *  *  )  ?)  ) ?  )  ? )( ( ( ?( ' ?' ' ?' '&??& ??&  &    ?        ??     ?   ???    ?   ?   ?   ?     ? ?    ? ?   ? ?  ?    ?  ?  ?    ?  ?? ?  ? ?   ? ?  ?? ?  ?    ?   ??  ?   ?    ? ? ?     ?  ?? ?   ?   ???  ??  ? ? ?? ?? ??  ????   ???? ? ? ? ? ?  ??  ? ? ? ? ??  ?? ?? ?  ?  ?     ?   ?  ?  ? ? ? ?   ??   ?        ? ?  ??   ???  ? ? ? ? ? ? ?   ? ?? ??  ?? ?  ? ?  ? ??  ? ???  ?? ?  ? ?? ?  ?     ??     ??   ??  ???? ? ? ? x? ?8 ?? ? ?  ?? 8 ??  ? 8 ??  ?    | ??  <?   ? ??   ?  ???  ????  ???  ??|  ?  ???  ??  ??  ?  ?  ???  >?  <?  8?  0?   ???   ????   ???   ???   ?    ?   ??   ???  ? ??  ? ? ? ? ?  ? ? ?? ? ??? ? ?  ? ?? ?? ?? ? ?? ?? ??? ??? ? ??? ???? ?  ? ? ?? ?? ??  ? ? ?  ?  ? ? ?? ??? ??? ?? ?  ??? ???????  ? ??? ?  ?8? ?~??<? ?8? ??8?? ?? 0??   ? ?`?? ?@??? ? ???? ? ?? ?? ??  ?  ?0 ??0? &?8 ?8 ??` ?  ?  ?? ?  ???????????? ?  ??????? ??  ? ?!?!8<>?~? |?| |?0 < >  ? ?? ? ? ???? ?? ?? ???????????????????   ?<? < x x     ?? ???0? ???$?$?? ?? ? ? ? ? ?? ??? ???????????? ???? ??? ??x ??  ?? ?  ?????? ?? ?"? "??  <?  ?  ??   ? ?  ? ? ???  ???  ??? ~ ??? @? ? ?p ?     @         ?  ? ? ? ? ???????@?? ??8??? |??? ???? ?? ?? ??    ?  ?    ?>?|? ? ? ? ??  ?? ? ?? ???????? ?? ? ??? ? ?? ?  ?  ? ? ?? ??p`?  ? ~? ~?~??~?????~????~???|???<??`8???8??0???0 ??  ?? ? ????? ?x ?x ?|? ??|? ? > ?  > ?? ? ? ? ??x ? ?|  ?~? ? ? ??  ??  ?? ? ?  ??? ? ???  ?? ?         ?        ?    ? ??  ???? ? ? ? ?    ?  ?   ??   ??         ??        ?  ?  ? ? ?  ?  ? |?  ? |? ?? ? < ?  >     ?? ??  ?? ??  ?       ??  ? ??? ? ?? ??  ? ? ?  ?      ?   ?? ?  ?  ?  ??  ? p ?   ? ?   ?    ?   ?   ?   ?  ??|? ? ???? ?? ??  ?  ???  ??  ??   ?~  ?| ? p ? ?? ? ?? ? ?  ??  ?   ?         ? ?   ?   ?      ?  ? ???   ???   ?? ?? ?? ?  ?? ?  ?   ?  ?  ?? ?  ?  ?     ?   ?  ?     ? ?   ??  ??  ?  ?   ?      ?    "? ?  " ?   ?  ? ?     ? ??  ?       ?    ?   ?  ?   ?? ?   ?  ?      ??     ?    ?    ??   ?     ?  ?   ?    ?    ??  ?  ??  ??  ?    ? ? ? ??       ? ?  ?  ? ?    ?      ? ? ?        ? ??  ? ?         ? |  >   ?       ? ? ? ???  ?? @?? ?   ??  ?  ? ? ? ?  ? ??       ??? ????    ? ?     ? ?        ?   ?  ?       ??  ? ???  ?    ?  ?   ??       ? ?           ?  ? ~  x  p   ? ? ?  ? ?  ?     ?         ?         ?? ? ? ? ??? ? ?? ? ?   * * `*?* )? ?)??))))))?'?'?'''' & &?  ' ? '  (  ) )? * ?*?+?,-J'%$# # " " !?  ?   q?   ?       ?   ?!33 ?!)( ( ' ?' ' & &?%%?%$$ # ?# ?# ? ? ???   ?  - -? ?- , , ?, , , , + +  +  +  ?+  *?  *!*!* "* #*3)3)?3)3)3)?3)3)3)2(?2(2(2(?2(2(2(2(2(1(?1(1(1(1(1(1(1)1A0A0A?0A?0A0A?0B0B1B1B1v) #UNLOGO.WPG "CEUS.,  _ XX  International  HumanRights    Instruments,<6X`( _Pleasedonotchangeanyofthecodeswhichappearbeforethiscomment.Distr.etc.muststarton  theFirstTabforalongsymbolortheSecondforashorterone. O (CEUS.,  _( XX (+! ++PX!  _HRI_/CORE/1/Add.59/Rev.1    page  3   ~ (-2$  \!CEUS.,   7 'CEUS.,  _( XX (+! ++PX!_HRI_/CORE/1/Add.59/Rev.1  page  3   ~ (-2$  \!CEUS.,  ($     $CEUS.,33Ӏ  *   B.++b >uQ!XBӀAvailableforconsultationinthefilesoftheCentreforHumanRights.(?2$  \!CEUS.,  33Ӏ  0      b #|x  dHP LaserJet 4P,,,,,,0(9 Z6Times New Roman RegularX!(\$CEUS.,}. Jc.Oru' (IX7 U  \!CEUS.,  _R??'F dEF ??'QG dEQG ?_]MIz|_ p @X@E_X__AXX kBA UNITED R NATIONS  _OKz|2n ` @X@E?2nJ?2n ]MIz|   p @X@E      J8 kB J8! ??X!  +?]  Distr.    GENERAL '    _HRI_/CORE/1/Add.59/Rev.1 s    25June1996      Original:ENGLISH  e  mm! @ COREDOCUMENTFORMINGPARTOFTHEREPORTSOFSTATESPARTIES I E.++b >uQ!??E@*FINLAND ; CC;%[10August1995]  ?%ParagraphsPage y 6"+ +j  a !#++76 I.  LANDANDTHEPEOPLEaa>a.RR#A1   E !8""I#2 5   A. j Generalaa>a.& & A1   E !6""I#2    B. j Ashorthistoryaa>a.FF#A7   E !8""I#2 ]   II.  CONSTITUTIONALBASISANDGENERALPOLITICAL "   STRUCTUREaa>a.j j QQ@9  A A D !22""I#3 O#   A. j Generalaa>a.& & QQ@9  A A D !12""I#3  %   B. j Thenationallanguageaa>a.)?13  A A D !22""I#3 W' -- III.  STATISTICALINFORMATIONaa>a.'?  23 ! !F !""I#5  3 )  IV.  GENERALLEGALFRAMEWORKWITHINWHICHHUMANRIGHTS !!+   AREPROTECTEDaa>a. QQ@24  A A D !39""I#7 "%",  V.  INFORMATIONANDPUBLICITYaa>a.)QQ@40  A A D !45""I#9 #q#.   $$/ ..+RGE.9616917(E) .+  33R}____Z.++b >uQ!+ +j  a !Z@"I.LANDANDTHEPEOPLE  @(A.General l4 1. b Withatotalareaof338,145_km2_,Finlandistheseventhlargestcountryin  Europe.Thelongestdistancefromsouthtonorthis1,160kmandthegreatest   width540km.Itstotalfrontieris3,600kminlength:2,571kmareland  P borders,586kmwithSweden,716kmwithNorway,and1,269kmwithRussia.The O  coastlineisabout1,100kmlong.    2. b Approximately70percentofthelandsurfaceisforest,15percent  l  cultivatedland,settlementorroadsand15percentlakesandwasteland,suchas k3  swamps,arcticfellsandsand. 2  3. b ThepopulationofFinlandin1992reachedthe5millionmark.Theaverage   populationdensityis16.5inhabitants/_km2_,whichvariesfrom130inthe O  industrializedsouthtobetween2and3inthesparselypopulatedregionsofthe N  north.   4. b Finlandmaybeclassifiedasapost-industrialnation,and k in1991anestimated9percentofthepopulationderivedits j2 livelihoodfromagriculture,33percentfromindustryand58percent 1 fromservices.  5. b TotheLutheranNationalChurchofFinlandbelong86.2percentofthe N population(4,375,047),totheGreekOrthodoxChurchinFinland1percentofthe M population(53,103)andtotheRomanCatholicChurchofthecountryonly  0.1percentofthepopulation(5,300).Personswhoarenotmembersofany  religiousassociationscount11.7percent(596,324).SomeotherLutheranand j OrthodoxChurches,aswellasotherreligiousassociations,areactiveinthe i1 country. 0 6. b ThetwoofficiallanguagesinFinlandareFinnish(93.1percentofthe ! population;4,727,290)andSwedish(5.82percent;295,630).TheSamilanguage M" isspokenby1,738persons(0.03percent). L # @ii$B.Ashorthistory !% 7. b ThreeimportantdatesfromthewholeofFinland'spoliticalhistory h#0' are1809,1917and1995.In1809,afteraperiodofabout600years,Finland /$( ceasedtobetheeasternmostpartoftheKingdomofSwedenandbecamean $) autonomousgrandduchyundertheRussianCzar.On6December1917, % * ParliamentproclaimedFinlandanindependentrepublic.BothSwedishandRussian &L!+ dominationlefttheirmarkontherelationsbetweenFinland's K'", highestorgansofGovernment.FinlandbecameamemberoftheEuropeanUnionin ("- 1995. (#. 8. b Finlandisaparliamentarydemocracybasedoncompetitionbetweenpolitical g*/%0 _parties,powerbeingdividedamongthehighestorgansofGovernment. 8 @ II.CONSTITUTIONALBASISANDGENERALPOLITICALSTRUCTURE T @(A.General   9. b TheFinnishConstitutioncrystallizesthemainprinciplesofgovernmentin p 8 veryplainterms.PowerinFinlandisvestedinthepeople,whoarerepresented 7   bydeputiesassembledinParliament.Legislativepowerisexercisedby    ParliamenttogetherwiththePresidentoftheRepublic.Thesupremeexecutive    powerisvestedinthePresident.ForthesupremegovernmentoftheStatethere T  isalsoaCouncilofStateconsistingofaPrimeMinisterandarequisitenumber S  ofministers.Judicialpowerisvestedinindependentcourtsoflaw,atthe   highestlevelintheSupremeCourtandtheSupremeAdministrativeCourt.   10. b TheConstitutionofFinlandisbaseduponcertainfundamentallawsandto o7  someextentuponcustomarylaw.Theprincipalfundamentallawisthe 6  ConstitutionAct,of17July1919.ThisActdeterminesthebasicdemocratic  principlesuponwhichtheStateofFinlandisorganized,thefundamentalrights  andfreedomsofthecitizens,andthecompetenceandmutualrelationsofthe S principalorgansoftheState.Thecompositionandthefunctionofthe R representativeassembly,Parliament,arelaiddownintheParliamentActof  13January1928,assubsequentlyamended.Inaddition,therearetwoActsof  25November1922,whichhavethestatusoffundamentallaw.Oneconcernsthe o rightofParliamenttoreviewthelegalityofofficialactionstakenbycabinet n6 ministersandbytheChancellorofJustice,andtheotherthecompositionand 5 competenceoftheHighCourtofImpeachment.  11. b Furthermore,theProvinceofland,thelandislands,enjoysan R internationallyguaranteedautonomygrantedin1921.Theautonomyisspecified Q infundamentallaws,theAutonomyActs,thelatestofwhichwasenactedin1991   andenteredintoforceatthebeginningof1993. ! 12. b Forthepurposeoflocaladministration,Finlandisdividedintoprovinces m 5# andtheseagainintourbanandruralmunicipalities,eachhavingitsown 4!$ government.Eachmunicipalityhasarepresentativecouncil,themembersofwhich !% areelectedbythepeopleoftherespectivemunicipalitybygeneralsuffrage. "& @   B.Thenationallanguages P$( 13. b AccordingtotheConstitutionofFinland(1919)thenationallanguagesof % * theRepublicareFinnishandSwedish.However,Swedishisspokenonlybya &m!+ minorityof5.8percentofthepopulation.Bilingualismandthespecial l'4", positionofSwedisharebasedonthefactthatFinland,until1809,wasan 3("- integralpartoftheKingdomofSweden.ForthemostparttheSwedish-speaking (#. populationisconcentratedalongthesouthernandwesterncoasts. )$/ Ї14. b TherightsofFinnishcitizenstousetheirmothertongue,whetherFinnish T orSwedish,beforecourtsandadministrativeauthoritiesare   guaranteedbytheConstitutionandthespecialLanguageAct(1922).Theserights   oftheFinnish-speakingandtheSwedish-speakingpopulationsmustbeputinto  q effectinaccordancewiththeprincipleofequality.Theculturalandeconomic p 8 needsofbothoftheselanguagegroupsshallbemetbytheStateinaccordance 7   withthesameprinciple.    15. b Lawsanddecrees,governmentbillstoParliament,aswellastheofficial T  communicationsofParliamenttotheGovernment,shallbedrawnupinFinnishand S  Swedish.   16. b AccordingtotheLanguageAct,amunicipalityisunilingualiftheminority p  whichspeakstheothernationallanguagedoesnotattain8percent(or o7  3,000persons).Iftheminorityexceedsthat,themunicipalityisbilingual.A 6  bilingualmunicipalityshall,however,notbedeclaredunilingualbeforethe  minorityhasdroppedbelow6percent.  17. b InaccordancewiththeConstitution,Governmentmaintainseducational R establishmentsofmanykinds,fromprimaryandsecondaryschoolstovariousforms  ofprofessionalandadulteducation,inbothofthenationallanguages.Some  universitiesaretosomedegreebilingual.Oneofthem,boAkademi(inTurku), o hasSwedishasitslanguageofinstruction. n6 18. b TheSwedishnewspapers,aswellasradioandtelevisionprogrammes,havea  longtraditioninFinland.  19. b TheautonomylegislationoftheProvinceofland,thelandislands, Q containssomeprovisionswhichguaranteethedominanceofSwedishinland.   Thereareabout23,000Swedish-speakingpeopleinlandrepresenting95percent ! ofthepopulationoftheProvince. n" 20. b TheSamilanguageisspokenbytheSamisortheLapps,consideredasan 4!$ indigenouspeopleinFinland.Thereareapproximately6,400Samisinthecountry !% andthisrepresents0.1percentofthetotalpopulation.Thisisthenumberof "& SamisaccordingtotheestimatemadebytheSamiParliament.TheStatistical #Q' YearbookofFinlandgivesthefigure1,738fortheSamisatend-year1993.The P$( countingmethodsofthetwodiffer.MostoftheSamisliveinLaplandinthe %) northofFinland. % * 21. b TherearethreedifferentSamidialectsinFinland.MostoftheSamisspeak l'4", NorthernSami.TheothertwodialectsspokeninFinlandareInariSamiand 3("- SkoltSami. (#.  )$/ 22. b ForpreservingSamicultureandsafeguardingtheirlinguisticrights,the 8 SamiDelegation(SamiParliament)hasdrawnupabill(1987)fortheutilization  oftheSamilanguagebeforeauthorities.In1990thebillwaspassedby  ParliamentandtheActcameintoforceatthebeginningof1992. U AccordingtotheamendedConstitutionalAct(969/1995)theSamiasanindigenous 7   peopleandRomanypeopleandotherminoritieshavetherighttomaintainand    developtheirownlanguageandculture.    @uuIII.STATISTICALINFORMATION S  23. b Thefollowingstatisticalinformationispresentedaccordingtothe   consolidatedguidelinesfortheinitialpartofthereportsofStatesparties. p  AnnexedtothisreportistheStatisticalYearbookofFinland1994* \!   *     .The o7  referencestothepagesoftheYearbookinthetextofthisreportaretobe 6  foundinparenthesesaftereachpassage.Formoredetailedinformation,seethe  referredpagesoftheYearbook.  Economicdata R '++/[7++7'Nationalincome  (Percapitaincome)'/72337 [ Fmk  (1993) 7 (p.275) o '/22980 [ US$  (1992) 7 (p.600) n6 GrossdomesticproductSS/478656000000 [ Fmk  (1993) 7 (p.270)  SS/116309000000 [ US$  (1992) 7 (p.602)  ' ++S++/['Inflation S 1.1%(1994) Q '++/[7++( 'NetforeigndebtSS/265117000000 [ Fmk  (1993) 7 (p.222) ! (Externaldebt) n" 0++h[7++/[0Rateofunemployment h 444000  (1993) [ 17.9% 7 (p.607) 4!$ Religion #Q' Populationbyreligiousaffiliationandsexatend-year1993 %) LutheranNationalChurch1993 &m!+  l'4", 3++ {M++h[3 Total!43750471{86.2% 8  Males!20667471{83.7%   Females!23083001{88.5%  GreekOrthodoxChurchinFinland1993 T  Total$531032{1.0%    Males$242502{1.0%  q  Females$288532{1.1% p 8 RomanCatholicChurchinFinland1993    Total%53002{0.1% p   Males%25722{0.1% o7   Females%27282{0.1% 6  &  Personsnotmembersofanyreligiousassociations1993   TotalGG#5963241{11.7% R  MalesGG#355498   FemalesGG#240826  'EN.++b >uQ!++ {NN b Otherreligiousassociationsare:otherLutheranChurches,otherOrthodox n6 Churches,Jehovah'sWitnesses,FreeChurchinFinland,AdventistChurches,Church 5 ofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints,Baptistcongregations,MethodistChurches,  Jewishcongregations,Islamiccongregations.  (Seeformoredetailedinformationp.93oftheYearbook.) Q &  Population ! *++ M++7*Populationbylanguageatend-year19933  (p.84) m 5# 'qH Finnish!4727290##193.1% !%  SwedishGG#29563025.82% "&  Lappish%173820.03% #Q'  Other$5325421.05% P$( Populationbysexatend-year1993*3  (p.82) % *  Men!2470200 l'4",  Women!2607700 3("- Lifeexpectancy1992*3  (pp.111and112) )$/  b}   Infantmortality(1992)*3  (p.105)   Confinementstotal$66089 U  Births$67019 T  Stillbirths'28824.3%   Fertilityrates(1992)*3  (p.108)  q Generalfertilityrate:52.7/1,000womenofchildbearingage. 7   Age-specificfertilityrates*3  (p.108)    Maternalmortality(1993):2 S  Percentageofpopulationunder15andover65yearsofage(1993)  under15yearsofage S  WholepopulationGG#970700   MenGG#495800   WomenGG#474900 o over65yearsofage 5  WholepopulationGG#706200   MenGG#257300 R  WomenGG#4489003  (p.82) Q Populationinurbanmunicipalities(1993)325300064.1% !  Men!24702003  (p.49) m 5# Populationinruralmunicipalities182490035.9% !% Femalesper1,000malesinurbanmunicipalities:1094 #Q' Ѐinruralmunicipalities:991 P$( Ѐinthewholecountry:1056 %) N.++b >uQ!++ NNӀ@  IV.GENERALLEGALFRAMEWORKWITHINWHICH &m!+ [ [ HUMANRIGHTSAREPROTECTED l'4", 24. b InFinlanddomesticcourtsandauthoritiesapplyinternationalhumanrights (#. instrumentsasdomesticlaws.Thesupervisionoftheobservanceofhumanrights )$/ intheuseofpublicauthorityiswithinthecompetenceoftheParliamentary *P%0 OmbudsmanandtheChancellorofJustice(oftheCouncilofState).Atthe O+&1 legislativestageitisespeciallythedutyoftheConstitutionalLawCommittee 8 ofParliamenttosupervisetheobservanceofhumanrights.  25. b Anindividualwhoclaimsthatanyofhishumanrightshasbeenviolatedmay U appealtothecourtinanormalway.Ifthedecisionofanauthorityis T consideredtobeagainstthehumanrightsprovisions,thedecisionshallbe   repealed.Also,theextraordinaryrightofappeal(ylimrinenmuutoksenhaku)   canbeused.  q 26. b Theinjuredpartyisentitledtodemandpaymentofdamagesinthecourt 7   accordingtothenormalprinciplesoftheActonCompensationforDamages    (vahingonkorvauslaki).Also,criminalproceedingscanbebroughtagainstthe    civilservantwhoviolatedthehumanrights. T  27. b AccordingtotheConstitution(sect.93.2),citizenscanalsomakea   complainttotheChancellorofJustice,ParliamentaryOmbudsmanortoahigher   authority. p  28. b ChapterIIoftheConstitutionActcontainsmostoftheprovisionsofthe 6  fundamentalrightsofcitizens.Theseprovisionshaverecentlybeenamendedby  anactofParliament(969/1995)whichenteredintoforceon1August1995.  29. b Thereformofthelegislationonfundamentalrightsmodernizesandspecifies R thesystemoffundamentalrightsofFinland.Thefundamentalrightsnow,asa  generalrule,applytoallpersonsunderthejurisdictionoftheGovernmentof  Finland,whereastheConstitutionformerlyonlymentioned"therightsofa o Finnishcitizen". n6 30. b ThescopeoffundamentalrightsregulatedintheConstitutionActhasalso  beenextendedtocovereconomic,socialand&  culturalrights;rightsrelatingto  theindividual'slegalsafety;therighttovoteandtobeelected;therightto R participate;andrightsconcerningtheenvironment. Q 'S^31. b ThenewfundamentalrightssafeguardedinchapterIIoftheConstitutionAct ! arethefollowing:equalityofhumanbeings(sect.5);righttolife,personal n" freedom,integrityandsecurity;prohibitionofdeathsentence,tortureand m 5# treatmentviolatinghumandignity(sect.6);prohibitionofretroactivecriminal 4!$ lawandtheprincipleoflegalityofcriminallaw(sect.6(a));freedomof !% movement(sect.7);protectionofprivacy,honouranddomesticpeace;secrecyof "& postal,telephoneandmessagecommunication(sect.8);freedomofreligionand #Q' conscience(sect.9);freedomofspeechandrighttogetinformationonpublic P$( document(sect.10);freedomofassemblyanddemonstration;freedomof %) association(sect.10(a));righttovote,tobeelectedandtoparticipate % * (sect.11);protectionofproperty(sect.12);righttoeducationandculture &m!+ (sect.13);linguisticrights;righttouseone'sownnativelanguage,whether l'4", FinnishorSwedish,beforeacourtoflaworanadministrativeauthority;right 3("- ofSami,Romanyandothergroupstotheirownlanguageandculture;rightsof (#. usersofsignlanguage(sect.14);provisiononenvironment;responsibilityfor )$/ natureandenvironment,guaranteeingofhealthyenvironment(sect.14(a));right *P%0 toworkandprotectionofthelabourforce(sect.15);socialrights;rightto O+&1 necessarylivelihoodandcare,guaranteeingofbasiclivelihoodandsocialand 8 healthservices,promotingofthehealthofthepopulation,supportingthosewho  areresponsibleforthecareofthechild,promotingofhousing(sect.15(a));  legalsafeguardsofadministrationandapplicationoflaw(sect.16). U 32. b Thereformstrivesforincreaseddirectapplicabilityoffundamentalrights   beforecourtsandotherauthoritiesbywritingtheprovisionsonfundamental   rightsinamoreexactway.Inaddition,theaimistotightentheconditionsof  q restrictingfundamentalrightsandtoclarifythesystemofsupervisionof p 8 fundamentalrightsbyincludingbasicprovisionsconcerningtheminthe 7   Constitution.    33. b Accordingtosection16.AoftheConstitutionActinforce,itispossible T  toprescribebyActofParliamentsuchrestrictionstotherightsofFinnish S  citizensasarenecessaryintimesofwarorrebellionandwhicharein   conformitywiththeinternationalhumanrightsobligationsbindingFinland.   34. b Therelationshipbetweendomesticandinternationallawisgenerally o7  understoodashavingbeenresolvedaccordingtothedualisticmodel.Themost 6  frequentlyusedmethodofimplementinginternationaltreatiesinFinlandis  incorporationeitherthroughanActofParliamentoradecreeinblanco.The  hierarchicalstatusoftheincorporatingenactmentdeterminestheformalrankof S aninternationalagreement.AccordingtotheConstitutionAct,treaties R withforeignPowersmustbeapprovedbytheParliamentinsofarastheycontain  provisionswhichpertaintolegislationoriftheyinvolvefinancialobligation. o 35. b TheInternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRightsaswellasthe 5 EuropeanConventionfortheProtectionofHumanRightsandFundamentalFreedoms  wereapprovedbytheParliament.Someofthehumanrightstreaties,e.g.the  InternationalCovenantonEconomic,SocialandCulturalRights,theConvention R andProtocolRelatingtotheStatusofRefugeesandtheInternationalConvention Q ontheEliminationofAllFormsofRacialDiscrimination,wereoriginally   incorporatedthroughagovernmentdecreeonly.Butthisproblemismitigatedby ! interpretingdomesticstatutesinordertoavoidconflictsbetweendomesticlaw n" andhumanrightsinstruments. m 5# 36. b Itispossibletoreferdirectlytotheprovisionsofthehumanrights !% treatiesbeforecourtandauthorities,inthesamewayasnationallaws. "& 37. b TheParliamentaryOmbudsmanwasthefirstFinnishauthoritytouse P$( systematicallyinternationalhumanrightstreatiesindecision-making.During %) thelastfewyearsFinnishjudgeshavebecomeawareoftheexistenceand % * applicabilityofhumanrightsinstruments.Agrowingcase-lawhasbeenemerging, &m!+ andnowhumanrightstreatiesareinvokedbycourtsclearlymoreoftenthan l'4", constitutionalprovisions.Themainemphasisinthehumanrightstreaty 3("- applicationbytheSupremeCourthasbeenontheissuesrelatedtocriminal (#. procedureandarticle14oftheICCPR. )$/ 38. b TheConstitutionalLawCommitteeofParliamenthaspointedoutthat O+&1 "internationalcontractualobligationsmustbetakenintoconsiderationinthe 8 practicallegislativeworkandactionofauthorities....Intheviewofthe  Committee,alsoinlegislativeworkmoreattentionshouldbepaidtothehuman  rightstreatiesbindingFinland". U 39. b TheParliamentaryOmbudsmanandtheChancellorofJusticeareresponsible   foroverseeingtheimplementationofhumanrights.Accordingtothereformof   thefundamentalrightsprovisionsoftheConstitution,theConstitutionalLaw  q CommitteeofParliamenthastoobservethatgovernmentbillsareinconformity p 8 withthefundamentalrightsoftheConstitutionandwiththeinternationalhuman 7   rightsinstruments.    @uuV.INFORMATIONANDPUBLICITY T  40. b TheFinnisheducationalsystemhasincreasinglyreplacedregulationsbased   onlegalnormsandinstructionswithdirectionsbasedontheprovisionof   information.Thisallowsindividualschoolsmorefreedomtodecideoncurricula p  andteachingmaterials.Thenationalreviewandapprovalsystemforteaching o7  materialshasbeeneliminated.Asaresult,comprehensivedataontheresultsof 6  teachingaboutequalityinschoolsarenotavailable.However,theNational  BoardofGeneralEducationiscurrentlypreparinganationalevaluationofthe  comprehensiveschoolsystem,includingimplementationofhumanrightsand S equality. R 41. b Thebasiccriteriaforthecurriculaofcomprehensiveschoolsandupper n6 secondaryschoolswereconfirmedinJanuary1994.Theystatethatanimportant 5 startingpointfortheestablishmentofacurriculumistheneedtoprovidea  clearlydefinedsetofvaluesandanawarenessofthosevalues.Forsettingthe  goalsofteachingthebasiccriteriastatethattheelementsofthevalues R essentialforourtimederivenotonlyfromtheclassicfundamentalvaluesbut Q especiallyfromrespectforhumandignityandforlife,asmanifestedin   universaldeclarations,recommendationsandtreatiesaimedatfosteringhuman ! rightsandtheviabilityoftheglobe.Equalitybetweenhuman&  beings,regardless n" ofsex,race,healthoraffluence,maybechosenasastartingpoint,alongwith m 5# thepreservationoflifeontheglobeinallitsdiversity. 4!$ '42. b TheNationalBoardofGeneralEducationhasconfirmedanationalplan "& for1994and1995onequalityineducationtobeusedincurricular&  development #Q' andpedagogicalpracticesforlocalandschoollevels.Theplanrequiresthat P$( thecurriculaandteachingmaterialstakeanapproachwhichactivelypromotes %) genderequality. % * '#43. b ThetextsofallhumanrightstreatiesratifiedbyFinlandhavebeen l'4", publishedasofficialpublications(treatyseries)inbothnationallanguages, 3("- FinnishandSwedish,aswellasinEnglishandFrench.Someofthesehavealso (#. beenincludedinthecollectionoflawscalled"TheLawofFinland".Reference )$/ ismadetorelevanthumanrightstreatiesundervariousheadingsinthis *P%0 collection. O+&1 Ї44. b In1994,acollectionofalargenumberofhumanrightstexts,bothtreaties 8 andotherinstruments,waspublishedinFinnishbyahumanrightsorganization.  Thisvolumeisnowavailabletofacilitatepublicinformationthroughlibraries  andasareferencebookforresearchers,activistsandthemedia. U 45. b Thereportingsystemofsomerecenthumanrightstreatiessuchasthe   ConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofDiscriminationAgainstWomenand   theConventionontheRightsoftheChildhasbeenusedasaninstrumentfor  q informationandeducationforthegeneralpublicaswellasforgovernmentand p 8 localofficials.ThesereportshavebeenpublishedbothinFinnishandin 7   English.Trainingseminarshavebeenorganizedusingthesereportsastoolsfor    buildingamoreresponsiveenvironmentfortheactivepromotionofhumanrights.    @%%+