Universal periodic review by the United Nations Human Rights Council

Universal periodic review by the United Nations Human Rights Council, Report by Finland, February 2008 (Opens New Window) (PDF, 116 kb)

In Finland, public authorities are responsible for ensuring the implementation of basic rights and human rights. An overall reform of the basic rights and liberties took effect on 1 August 1995. Its main purpose was to create in Finland a basic rights system that is in full compliance with the international human rights obligations and thus reinforce the fulfilment of these obligations at national level.

The Constitution of Finland (731/1999) guarantees the inviolability of human dignity and the freedoms and rights of the individual and promotes justice in society. One of the objectives of the basic rights reform carried out was to increase the direct applicability of basic rights and liberties by courts and other authorities in their decisions. Before the reform these authorities made only limited references to basic rights and liberties, but thereafter they have clearly referred increasingly to these rights in the reasoning for their decisions.