Eva Biaudet appointed as Ombudsman for Minorities (05/07/2010)

The Finnish Government has appointed Eva Biaudet as the new Ombudsman for Minorities for the next five years beginning from May 15, 2010. The duties of the Ombudsman for Minorities include advancing the status and legal protection of ethnic minorities and foreigners as well as equality, non-discrimination and good ethnic relations in Finland.

 

The Ombudsman also acts as the national rapporteur on trafficking in human beings and provides information about the content and interpretation of the legislation concerning ethnic discrimination. The Ombudsman cooperates with other authorities to ensure that everyone is treated equally, regardless of their ethnic background.

 

Eva Biaudet has lately worked as the special representative and co-ordinator for combating trafficking in human beings at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) 2006-2009. Before that, she has served as the minister of Health, Social Services and Equality 1999-2000 and 2002-2003. She has been a Member of the Finnish Parliament 1991-2006 and served as a Member of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly for three years. She has had several positions of trust relating to the Ombudsman’s field of activities, for example, as the chairperson of the Finnish Refugee Council and as a member of the Council for Gender Equality.

 

More information: Chief of Staff Ritva Viljanen, 071 878 8203