In its first thematic report, the Council of Europe Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) welcomes the important steps taken by Finland in preventing and combating violence against women. However, despite the progress made across all four pillars of the convention, GREVIO has identified areas requiring further action by the authorities to fully comply with the Istanbul Convention.
Since the adoption of its baseline evaluation report in 2019, GREVIO has noted a range of positive developments in Finland’s legislative framework. These include the adoption of a consent-based approach to the definition of rape, and legislative amendments to permit the dissolution of forced marriages. GREVIO is also welcoming the planned legislative amendments to criminalise forced marriages and female genital mutilation (FGM). The authorities have also enhanced the protection of domestic violence victims through reforms to the Finnish Act on Restraining Orders. Similarly, amendments to various educational laws and policies have been introduced to enhance the prioritisation of equality within the education system. Moreover, GREVIO commends the recognition of the gendered nature of violence against women in the Action Plan for the implementation of the Istanbul Convention, Finland has also reinforced the role of the National Rapporteur within the Office of the Non-Discrimination Ombudsman with the aim to facilitate the independent monitoring and evaluation of policies addressing violence against women and domestic violence.
Other noteworthy measures to combat violence against women include the expansion of the network of multi-agency case conferences (MARAC), allowing a better risk assessment and risk management, including the system of emergency barring and restraining orders. While acknowledging the added value of MARAC networks in the well-being services counties where they are established, GREVIO points out that these networks are still absent in many regions, and where they do exist, their working methods and compositions vary significantly.
In addition, steps have been taken to expand the network of the Support Centres for Victims of Sexual Assault (SERI) as well as to improve the provision of specialist support and shelter services for women victims of violence with addiction issues.
Despite the progress made, a persistent concern regarding prevention efforts is the absence of mandatory in-service training for many relevant professional groups, including judges and public prosecutors, on issues related to the Istanbul Convention. While many receive some form of initial training, subsequent training remains voluntary, which adversely affects their understanding and knowledge of various forms of violence against women. Hence, GREVIO points to improvements necessary in the criminal justice response to violence against women, for example to better address the growing digital dimension of violence against women, to ensure greater effectiveness of emergency barring and protection orders and to reduce the number of cases discontinued due to mediation.
The Group of Experts is also calling the Finnish authorities to address the lack of systematic collection of data to provide a comprehensive understanding of reporting, prosecution, attrition, and conviction rates in cases of violence against women.
Concerning Sami victims of violence against women, GREVIO expresses concern over the lack of culturally and linguistically appropriate generalist and specialist services, including the insufficient availability of shelters within the Sami homeland.
GREVIO and Finland
Government comments
Newsroom
Violence against women in Finland: progress made in all fields, but need to improve training of professionals and address digital forms of violence

GREVIO
Strasbourg
3 December 2024
- Diminuer la taille du texte
- Augmenter la taille du texte
- Imprimer la page