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Finnish legislation concerning children

These pages present the main legislation on the situation and rights of children in Finland.

The primacy of children's interests is the central principle in all legislation concerning children. Attention has also to be paid to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Provisions concerning the situation and rights of children in Finnish legislation are contained in the following laws (links are to the statutes databank Finlex ):


Constitution of Finland

The basic rights declared in the Finnish Constitution concern children as well as adults. Children´s rights to be treated equally as individuals is emphasised in Section 6 of the Constitution, dealing with equality. According to the third subsection of the section children are to be treated equally and as individuals and they shall be allowed to influence matters pertaining to themselves to a degree corresponding to their level of development. Equality is to be guaranteed both among children and between children and adults.

According to Section 19 of the Constitution, the public authorities must support families and others responsible for providing for children so that they have the opportunity to ensure children´s wellbeing and personal development. The Constitution also decrees that society shall provide adequate social and health services, housing, income security, free basic education for children and financial support for families with children. In addition society has to promote the language and culture of people belonging to minorities, as well as the cultural identity Saami, Roma and immigrants.

The Act on Child Custody and Rights of Access

The aim of child custody is to guarantee the balanced development and welfare of children in accordance with their individual needs and wishes. Custody is to ensure positive and close relationships particularly between children and their parents.

Children are to be guaranteed a good level of tending and upbringing as well as sufficient care and supervision as by their age and level of development. There must be an aim to give a secure and stimulating growing environment and education corresponding to their aptitude and wishes. Children are to be brought up in such a way that they receive understanding, security and affection. Children must not be subjugated, physically punished or otherwise treated injuriously. Children´s independence and nurturing to become responsible and reach adulthood is to be supported and promoted.

In the processes of applying law on Child Custody and Rights of Access it is required that a matter is resolved taking account of the interests of the child.The opinions and wishes of the child are also to be taken into account according to the age and stage of development of the child.

Child Welfare Act

The Child Welfare Act states that children have the right to a safe and stimulating growing environment, balanced and varied development and with priority given to their welfare. Attention is given in the act primarily to the interests of the child.

The Child Welfare Act requires that municipal social welfare boards and other authorities must follow and develop the conditions in which children and young people grow up and remove and prevent the development of disadvantages in them. Particular attention has to be given in the development of services that they help support carers in the upbringing of children and that special attention is paid to children´s needs and wishes.

There are also provisions in the Child Welfare Act on children being heard. This is also provided for in the Act on the Status and Rights of Social Welfare Clients (812/2000) and the Administrative Procedure Act (434/2003). The Act on the Status and Rights of Social Welfare Clients also contains other provisions particularly relating to children. These include provisions on the situation of underage clients and concerning the giving of information concerning children. The Child Welfare Act is currently being amended.

Youth Act

The new Youth Act took effects from 1 March 2006, replacing the previous Act of 1995.

The purpose of the Act is to support young people´s up bringing and becoming independent, promote the active citizenship of young people, strengthen the socialisation of young people and improve the conditions in which they live and are brought up. There are also provisions in the Act concerning the participation of young people and for them to be heard. The term "youth" in the Act means below the age of 29.

The Youth Act contains regulations from the youth policy development programme, which the Ministry of Education prepares for adoption by the government at four-year intervals. Each four-yearly development programme decrees the aims of national youth policy and the guidelines of municipal and provincial youth policy programme work. The programmes are also developed with the participation of the main ministries with respect to youth affairs.

Basic Education Act

According to the Basic Education Act the purpose of instruction is to support pupils´ growth into humane and ethically responsible members of society, and to equip them with knowledge and skills needed in life. Instruction is to promote culture and equality in society and the preconditions for pupils to take part in education and otherwise develop themselves during their lives. The aim of morning and afternoon activities is to support home and school upbringing and the development of children´s emotional life and ethical growth. In addition, morning and afternoon activities promote children´s wellbeing and equality in society, prevent and increase participation.

Child Day Care Act

According to the Child Day Care Act the aim of day care is to support the homes of children in day care in child rearing tasks and, together with the home, promote the balanced personal development of children.

Each child is entitled to be supported for early education. Day care has to offer children constant, secure and affectionate relationships, support activity for children´s varied development and basis for children with attention to a favourable growing environment.

According to children´s age and individual needs, day care has to take account of children´s general cultural heritage to promote their physical, social and emotional development and to support their aesthetic, intellectual, ethical and religious education. In promoting child development, day care has to support the upbringing of children to be socially responsible and peaceful and to cherish their environment.