In this submission Amnesty International acknowledges Finland’s efforts to develop its national human rights architecture. However, concerns remain regarding the restrictions on the rights of refugees and migrants, including to free legal assistance and family reunification. The organization also draws attention to inadequate domestic legislation aimed at protecting women and girls from violence, discrimination against transgender individuals and intersex children, the lack of human rights training for teachers and civil servants, Finland’s involvement in the US-led CIA rendition and secret detention programmes, and lack of civilian alternatives to military service which are not punitive and discriminatory.
