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Projects and reports

The Office of the Ombudsman for Minorities produces various models and introduces practices aimed at ensuring equal treatment and non-discrimination. Information about the related projects and reports can be found in the publication series, annual reports, statements, opinions and initiatives of the Ombudsman for Minorities.

As part of its influencing activities, the Ombudsman for Minorities has addressed housing issues of Roma people, explored ways of intervening in racism occurring on the Internet, examined how racist motives are addressed in the pre-trial investigation of offences and in legal proceedings, and explored ways of developing advisory services against ethnic discrimination and ensuring the implementation of legal 

Examples of projects and reports 

Development of advisory services against ethnic discrimination

In 2005-2006, the Ombudsman for Minorities took part in the EU co-funded EurEquality project as part of which a study was carried out to explore ways of developing advisory services against ethnic discrimination in Finland. In the second phase of this project, various training and discussion events were organised across Finland. These events looked at recognising and intervening in ethnic discrimination and the possibilities of organising advisory services locally.

In 2007, a pilot project was carried out to coordinate regional advisory services against ethnic discrimination and to organise the collection of data on discrimination. This so-called ESKO project (coordination of advisory services against ethnic discrimination in the Employment and Economic Development Centre for Southeastern Finland) was implemented in collaboration between the Office of the Ombudsman for Minorities, the Immigration and Work Permit Team and the Immigration Policy Team of the Ministry of Labour, and the Employment and Economic Development Centre for Southeastern Finland. Based on the experiences gained from the project, it is possible to assess what needs to be done to develop the coordination of advisory services against ethnic discrimination and the related data collection. This also makes it possible to evaluate whether other Employment and Economic Centres could apply this model to coordinate advisory services in their respective areas.

Publication: Advisory services against ethnic discrimination in municipalities (available in Finnish and English)

Implementation of legal protection in the asylum procedure

In 2005, the Office of the Ombudsman for Minorities prepared a report on the implementation of legal protection in the asylum procedure.The report assessed, for example, whether the safeguards of legal protection are implemented in the accelerated asylum procedure.