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Finland

Monthly Updates

October 2022

Finland’s parliament has amended a law which dates to 1970 requiring approval of two doctors before having an abortion. The new approved legislative reform now allows women to receive pregnancy termination only through a request and without providing further explanation. Considering the country has the strictest abortion law in the Nordic region, the move is expected to relax the strict laws that have been considered outdated. The amendment is also considered a victory, as it comes after a 2020 citizen-led initiative to change this law in order to provide women with the fundamental right to make decisions about their bodies.

August 2022

A video of Prime Minister Sanna Marin dancing with friends at a party was leaked and went viral, causing a split between those calling for resignation and those supporting Prime Minister’s right to private life. This issue has yielded polarization between those who consider that the attacks on Sanna Marin reflect the existing sexism and discrimination, as well as the different standards young women are held to, and those that criticized the video as showing inappropriate behaviour for a prime minister.

Explore past monthly updates

GSoD Indices Data 2012-2021

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Basic Information

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Population Tooltip
5 541 700
System of government
Parliamentary system
Head of government
Prime Minister Sanna Marin (since 2019)
Head of government party
Social Democratic Party of Finland (SDP)
Electoral system for lower or single chamber
List Proportional Representation
Women in lower or single chamber
45.5%
Women in upper chamber
Not applicable
Last legislative election
2019
Effective number of political parties Tooltip
7.46
Head of state
President Sauli Niinistö
Selection process for head of state
Direct election (two-round majority)
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) date
03/05/2017
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) percentage of recommendations supported
78.43%
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Human Rights Treaties

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State Party State party
Signatory Signatory
No Action No action
United Nations Human Right Treaties
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
State Party
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
State Party
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
State Party
Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
State Party
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment
State Party
Convention on the Rights of the Child
State Party
International Convention on Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
No Action
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance 
Signatory
International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
State Party
International Labour Organisation Treaties
Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention
State Party
Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention
State Party
Equal Remuneration Convention
State Party
Abolition of Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention
State Party
Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment
State Party
Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention
State Party
Regional Treaties
Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
Protocol No. 4 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
Protocol No. 6 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
Protocol No. 7 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
Protocol No. 12 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
Protocol No. 13 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
in
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Early Warning System BETA

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Low risk of democratic breakdown Low risk of democratic breakdown (BETA)
Low risk of democratic backsliding Low risk of democratic backsliding (BETA)

Attributes Over Time

Representative government neutral Representative Government
Sep 2022
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb 2023
Representative government neutral Fundamental rights
Sep 2022
Oct
Nov
Dec
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Feb 2023
Representative government neutral Checks on government
Sep 2022
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb 2023
Representative government neutral Impartial administration
Sep 2022
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb 2023
Representative government neutral Participatory engagement
Sep 2022
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb 2023

GSoD Indices

Regime type
0 10