Ombudsman for Children in Finland

News

The Universal Children's Day statement encourages better everyday life

A representative group of powerful bodies in education, religion, the economy and society encourages Finns to make everyday life better with small actions. We can have a positive influence by saying hello, eating together, and by making a statement if someone is being bullied against.
Updating of Finnish traditions of care and upbringing >>

Ensuring a happy upbringing - praise a child every day

The theme of the Universal Children's Day this year is children's right to upbringing. The Ombudsman for Children in Finland and different organisations working with children, adolescents and families want to draw people's attention to the significance of the upbringing children receive at home and the importance of adults working in partnership.
Use positive upbringing and your authority, not violence >>

Children's rights as part of disability policy

The Ombudsman for Children considers Finland's disability policy as too adult-centred. She is demanding a child impact assessment for the new legislation.
- We must ensure that children with special needs and their families obtain the necessary services regardless of where they live, says Maria Kaisa Aula.
The right to be a child, not just a target for services >>
New publication on the rights of the disabled child (in Finnish) >>

Legal protection of children our new focus area

A new focus area in the activities of the Ombudsman for Children in Finland is the improvement of the legal protection of children and young people. We want to help adults to utilize better children ́s experience in the promotion of the quality of services.
Report of the Ombudsman for Children in Finland at the ENOC annual meeting >>
ENOC meeting in Warsaw looks at children in institutions >>

Committee hears children on the reduction of corporal punishment

Children feel that the most effective way of reducing corporal punishment is helping parents with their problems.  A survey of children carried out by the Office of the Ombudsman for Children also shows that it is important to increase children's confidence in services and the adults who provide them. The results of the survey were utilised by the committee on corporal punishment. Read more:
Publication 'Don't hit the child' >>
Ministry press release >>
Press release of the Office of the Ombudsman for Children >>

Good recommendations from the UN concerning the rights of the child

The Ombudsman for Children and NGOs promoting children's rights are pleased with the recommendations issued to the Finnish government by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child last Monday. The focus of the recommendations was on children's wellbeing at school and the quality of child welfare services, as anticipated.
More participation by children in the day-to-day operations of schools >>
UN Committee recommendations in English >>

A new manual for a child-friendly Finland for decision-makers

The Ombudsman for Children in Finland's Yearbook 2011 is a decision-maker's manual for a child-friendly Finland. It was presented to the Finnish Parliament on 16 July. According to the Yearbook, ‘Time for Children - Emphasis on Upbringing', and the discussion book, ‘Ten Questions on Upbringing', both released in June 16, parents must not leave their children to grow up alone, and parents must not be left to bring up their children alone.
Summary in English >>
The Yearbook in Finnish and Swedish, with a summary in English >>

Children and young people need information on their rights as patients

Children and young people do not have sufficient access to intelligible information on their rights as patients. They rarely contact the patient ombudsman directly, even though the services should be accessible to patients of all ages.
Ombudsman for Children investigates the status of child patients >>

Children and adolescents evaluate for the UN how well their rights are implemented

Intolerance, premature adulthood and lack of participation were mentioned by children's and adolescents' interest groups as points of improvement in Finland. They met with Maria Herczog, a member of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, in Jyväskylä.
Read more about the meeting between the UN Rapporteur and young people >>
The presentations of children and young people to UN rapporteur Maria Herczog >>

Child impact assessment proceeds in Finland

Child impact assessment has progressed in Finland little by little during last ten years. There are pilots and good practices both at national and local level. The Ombudsman office has published a research report on the issue.
Read more >>
Summary of the situation in Finland >>
Guidebook on child impact assesment >>

It pays to invest in the welfare of children and families

What causes prime ministers of the Nordic countries, the Baltic
countries and Great Britain to address family issues? The indicators of a nation's success are changing. Secondly, people are interested in the success of the Nordic model. Public services aimed at families are designed to support both the employment of mothers and fathers and the welfare of the children.
Read more >>
Summary of the discussionin UK summit >>

The Ombudman's report to the UN Committee

The first report issued by the Finnish Ombudsman for Children to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child stresses information gained from surveys and research conducted among children.
Read the release >>
Read the report in English >>
The statement of the Ombudsman in Geneva>>

"Being Saami is a Gift"

"More Similar than Different"