News

Important international award for the Emergency Response Centre Administration

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 06:53:16 GMT

The Emergency Response Centre Administration has been rewarded for its efforts towards efficient ERC operations. This international award was presented late in the evening of Wednesday, 17 April 2013, in Riga (Latvia). It was received by Martti Kunnasvuori, Head of the Emergency Response Centre Administration.

Every year, the European Emergency Number Association EENA rewards individuals and organisations for significant contributions and achievements in promoting emergency number 112. These awards are divided into eight categories.

In his speech, EENA founder and chairman Olivier Paul-Morandin praised the top candidates’ outstanding merits: "I hope that the heroes we have met today will inspire us in our continued work towards a safer society!"

Finland won in the Outstanding National 112 System category, which means that its national system of emergency rescue centres is the best in Europe. Emergency centre organisations from all over Europe cast votes in this competition, making the prize even more valuable.

Finnish ERC key figures speak for themselves

The Finnish ERC Administration’s operations are advanced, even by international standards. The emergency call response time, for example, has been at an excellent level for years. In addition, Finland is a forerunner among European countries when it comes to popular recognition of the emergency number 112, which is known by 96 per cent of Finns The European 112 Day is another innovation that originated in Finland.

The core of Finnish ERC operations is the cooperation between multiple authorities, facilitated not only by the emergency rescue centres but also e.g. the Public Authority Network (VIRVE). This cooperation is expected to further intensify in the wake of new ICT and operative solutions, cementing Finland's position in developing the chain of assistance.

The award was presented to Martti Kunnasvuori, Head of the Emergency Response Centre Administration, who credited the entire Finnish chain of assistance and the ECR professionals in his acceptance speech.

"Without active cooperation between authorities, efficient 112 operations would not be feasible. In particular, I would like to thank our staff for the valuable development work performed by our experts on behalf of the Finnish ERC Administration over the last ten years. This award is also a great honour for Finland, for the ministries in charge and the policy makers thanks to whom Finnish ERC operations are advanced and well organised by international standards. The key figures for our operations speak for themselves", Kunnasvuori points out.

"This provides a good platform for future development and our national and international cooperation."

The European Emergency Number Association EENA

The European Emergency Number Association EENA is a non-governmental organisation founded in Brussels in 1999. The organisation's goal is to promote high-quality 112 services everywhere in the EU.

EENA members include more than 600 representatives of 112 organisations from 43 European countries, technical suppliers, international organisations and 26 members of the European parliament.

More information:
Video introducing Finnish ECR operations (presented at the award ceremony):
http://youtu.be/XVGZ20ZMZO0
http://youtu.be/clZAj7APsY4

EENA 112 Awards Ceremony 2013: http://www.eena.org/view/en/112events/Awards.html

For more information:
EMERGENCY RESPONSE CENTRE ADMINISTRATION
Director, ERC Service, Marko Nieminen, switchboard: 071 4716 500, marko.nieminen@112.fi
Director, Steering and Forecasting, Teemu Hassinen, switchboard: 071 4716 500, teemu.hassinen@112.fi

Minister of the Interior Päivi Räsänen: The incorrect register entry to be thoroughly investigated

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 16:05:26 GMT

“I wish to express my sincerest apologies to President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin for the incorrect entry in the Suspect Data System. I find it essential that the matter be thoroughly investigated, and if necessary, a pre-trial investigation conducted,” says Minister of the Interior Päivi Räsänen.

Ms Räsänen was informed today, on Wednesday 10 April, that an incorrect entry regarding President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin had been made into the Suspect Data System of the police. Ms Räsänen took immediate action to look into the matter. The National Police Board, which is the data controller, stated that the entry in the System was incorrect and the National Bureau of Investigation deleted the entry immediately.

”The Ministry of the Interior takes the matter very seriously if a member of the police personnel makes entries into the Suspect Data System without a legal basis. Provisions on the data entered into the System are laid down by law. Everyone who has the right to make these entries should know the law,” emphasises Ms Räsänen.

The Ministry of the Interior is currently carrying out a project concerning the internal monitoring of police action.

For further information, please contact Permanent Secretary Päivi Nerg, tel. +358 71 878 8203, Special Adviser Andrei Nahkala, tel. +358 71 878 8212.

An unfounded entry of data in the police Suspect Data System

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 15:36:08 GMT

Statement by The National Police Board

Today, the National Police Board was notified that information on President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin had been recorded into the police Suspect Data System.

The National Police Board took immediate action to investigate the issue in cooperation with the National Bureau of Investigation.

According to the National Police Board's findings, the entered data is incorrect and has no legal bases.

The supreme police command requested the National Bureau of Investigation to delete the data that had been recorded in the system on erroneous bases. This was done immediately.

There will a separate inquiry to establish whether errors have been made in the recording process. The need for any further measures will be assessed in the same context.

National Police Commissioner Mikko Paatero emphasises that information registered in the public authorities' data systems must be correct and data entries based on legal grounds.

- These kinds of incidents are extremely exceptional and not acceptable in any circumstances. The Finnish police administration has paid particular attention to proper handling of personal data.

National Police Commissioner Mikko Paatero expressed his sincere apologies for the incident.

The Suspect Data System is a permanent, computerised personal data file intended for nationwide use by the police. The Suspect Data System may contain criminal intelligence, surveillance and observation data, obtained for the performance of duties laid down in the Police Act. The data relates to persons who are, with reason, suspected of being guilty of or having been guilty of an offence subject toimprisonment; or contributing to or having contributed to an offence subject to imprisonment of more than six months, or to an unlawful use of narcotics.

National Discrimination Tribunal prohibited ethnic discrimination in the provision of banking services

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 11:13:58 GMT

National Discrimination Tribunal Press Release

The petitioner requested the National Discrimination Tribunal to prohibit discrimination in the provision of banking services and to impose a conditional fine on Nordea Bank Finland Plc, because the Bank had not accepted his French identity card as proof of identity.

The Tribunal considered that the petitioner had given a detailed and plausible account of the Bank’s conduct that he had perceived as being discriminatory when trying to obtain banking services and that had given rise to a presumption of discrimination.

The Tribunal deemed the Bank's conduct to be direct discrimination. It also considered that the refusal to serve the petitioner and his removal from the Bank's premises constituted an infringement of his dignity and integrity. In this respect, the Bank's conduct was harassment prohibited under the Non-Discrimination Act.

Harassment is a relatively serious form of discrimination prohibited under section 6(2)(3) of the Non-Discrimination Act. Therefore the Tribunal decided, after taking account of all the relevant factors, that it was necessary to impose a conditional fine of EUR 5,000 in order to enforce compliance with its injunction.

The Bank had refused to let the petitioner make a deposit on the grounds that it could not accept the petitioner's French identity card as proof of his identity although according to the agreement concluded between the Bank and the petitioner, it was to be considered an official identity document and although the Bank would have accepted a Finnish identity card as proof of identity. The Bank has not stated that it had any reason to doubt the authenticity of the petitioner's identity card.

The Tribunal considered that no official instructions or the Bank's own instructions prevented the Bank from accepting the petitioner's French identity card as proof of identity. Because the petitioner's French identity card is accepted as a travel document across the European Union, its reliability is comparable to an identity card issued by Finnish authorities when establishing a person’s identity. The Tribunal considered that the only explanation for the Bank's conduct was the petitioner's French identity card. Thus, as regards proof of identity, the Bank treated the petitioner less favourably than someone else in a similar situation without any adequate justification.

The Bank had called security to remove the petitioner from its premises because the staff had perceived the situation as threatening. The Bank has not presented any substantiated facts from which the Tribunal could conclude that the petitioner's behaviour was in fact threatening. Based on the valid official instructions and legislation, the account agreement between the Bank and the petitioner, the Bank's practice over the years and the visit to the Bank a month prior to the incident, the petitioner had a legitimate expectation that the Bank would accept his French identity card as proof of identity.

The full case report is available in Finnish and later on also in English on the Tribunal's website at
http://www.syrjintalautakunta.fi

For further information, please contact:
Rapporteur of the Tribunal
Juhani Kortteinen
tel. +358 71 878 8680
e-mail: juhani.kortteinen@intermin.fi

THE NATIONAL DISCRIMINATION TRIBUNAL OF FINLAND

The National Discrimination Tribunal of Finland is an impartial and independent judicial body established under the Non-Discrimination Act and appointed by the Government. It deals with petitions concerning ethnic discrimination. Its decisions may be appealed to the administrative court.
Cases may be brought before the National Discrimination Tribunal by any parties who have been discriminated against, or by the Ombudsman for Minorities.

The Tribunal’s function is to give legal protection to those who consider they have been discriminated against or victimized. The Tribunal applies the Non-Discrimination Act to all natural and legal persons in private and public activities. The bodies governed by public law that fall within the scope of application of the Act include the State, municipalities, joint municipal authorities, the Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Orthodox Church.

The following issues fall outside the competence of the Tribunal: contractual employment relationships, employment relationships governed by public law, recruitment grounds, working conditions, terms of employment, personnel training and career advancement.

If a case concerning a prohibition on discrimination is or will be brought before another authority, the Tribunal may not consider it.
The Tribunal may prohibit continued or repeated discrimination or victimization based on ethnicity and impose a notice of a conditional fine to enforce compliance with its injunctions and order payment of such a fine. It may also endorse settlements between parties.

The courts, the Ombudsman for Minorities, other public authorities or associations may request an opinion from the Tribunal on the application of the Non-Discrimination Act.

The Tribunal deals with petitions free of charge, and its copies of the judgment are also free. The parties themselves are liable for other costs.

Further information on the National Discrimination Tribunal:
http://www.syrjintalautakunta.fi/en/front_page
National Discrimination Tribunal of Finland
PO Box 26
FI-00023 Government
E-mail:syrjintalautakunta@intermin.fi

Keel-laying ceremony for new offshore patrol vessel at STX Finland Rauma Shipyard

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 09:57:13 GMT

The Finnish Border Guard´s press release

The keel -laying ceremony for the new offshore patrol vessel under construction for the Finnish Border Guard took place at the STX Finland Rauma Shipyard on Monday, 25 February 2013. In attendance to celebrate the keel-laying were representatives of STX Finland, the Border Guard, the classification society and the media.

The offshore patrol vessel project is important to the Border Guard with regard to both border security and environmental security. The Border Guard’s fleet must be modernised if the risks of maritime traffic are to be managed and proper maritime search and rescue (SAR) capabilities maintained. When completed, the new vessel will enhance Finland’s maritime SAR capacity also under difficult conditions and in the event of multimodal accidents requiring multiple response capabilities. Not only does the vessel’s emergency towing capability allow it to protect other ships from harm, but its dependable operation is also guaranteed by the particular attention paid in design to its own high tolerance for damage. Design elements incorporated into the vessel to ensure its tolerance for damage in case of e.g. stranding or engine failure include a double hull and double engine rooms for redundancy. The vessel now under construction will markedly augment Finland’s offshore oil spill response capabilities.

The vessel will provide assistance in minor and major maritime accidents within and beyond Finland’s maritime SAR area of responsibility, serving as e.g. evacuation platform, oil recovery unit, on-scene command post, or even refuelling station for helicopters to extend their operating time at the scene of the accident.

In the international arena , the colour schemes of coast guard vessels often echo those of the national flag. The Finnish Border Guard’s new blue-and-white offshore patrol vessel complies with this practice, which lends further support to operations in the international maritime domain.

The construction of the offshore patrol vessel may be followed at www.raja.fi/uvl10. A ship naming contest is also underway. Submissions may be entered until the end of May at www.raja.fi/nimilaivalle

For further information, please contact:

Gunnar Holm, Chief of Ship Technical Unit, Technical Department, Finnish Border Guard, tel. +358 (0)71 872 1541

Good Relations project promotes good ethnic relations

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 07:24:12 GMT

The Ministry of the Interior is carrying out an international project entitled 'Good Relations'. The aim of this project is to combat racism, xenophobia, anti-Gypsyism and related forms of intolerance by promoting good relations between people from different ethnic backgrounds. Project Manager Liisa Männistö tells more about the project.

"There has been much discussion, both in Finland and at EU level, about 'good ethnic relations', but so far no definition has been provided of what is meant by them and how they are measured or monitored," says Ms Männistö. With this in mind, the project aims to provide a definition of 'good ethnic relations', to produce a set of indicators of good ethnic relations, to test them and to provide information and results on them at the national and EU level.

National and EU-level objectives

A number of national and EU-level objectives have been set for the project. One of the national objectives is to collect information at the local level about good relations in different areas of life in Finland and Sweden. Another aim is to test methods and tools that could be used to promote good ethnic relations and combat racism and discrimination at the local level.

Information collected at the local level will be analysed in collaboration with international partners, and on the basis of this work, the project will produce a set of measurable indicators of good relations that can be utilised in all EU countries.

In addition to indicators, a practical guide to promoting good relations will be produced for local-level actors, such as municipal employees, public authorities and teachers. A framework document for good relations will also be drawn up as one of the outcomes of the project.

Work has got off to a good start

"The work has got off to a good start; a meeting to kick off the project was held in Helsinki last December, and since then, we have kept in close contact with our project partners regarding the practicalities of the project. We have also discussed the implementation of the project with our national partners, and discussions with the member organisations of regional Advisory Boards for Ethnic Relations (ETNOs) are underway to collect information at the local level. The member organisations of regional ETNOs will play a significant role in implementing the national measures set out in the project," Ms Männistö says.

Wide network of partners

The Ministry of the Interior coordinates the project. The international partners involved in the project are the Swedish Ministry of Employment and the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities (NICEM). The Finnish partners include the national Advisory Board for Ethnic Relations (ETNO) and the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment for Uusimaa, Pirkanmaa and Southwest Finland. The project also collaborates with the Ministry of Employment and the Economy. The following have also been invited to the national working group: the regional ETNOs for South Finland, Pirkanmaa and Central Finland, and Western Finland; the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities; City-Sámit ry (an organisation for Saami people living in the Helsinki region); and the Regional Advisory Board on Romani Affairs for Southern Finland.

Website of the Good Relations project

For further information about the project, please contact Ms Liisa Männistö, Project Manager, tel. +358 71 878 8296, or Ms Hitomi Tabuchi, Programme Coordinator, tel. +358 71 878 8288.

Romanit.fi — a new website with information about the Finnish Roma

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 08:22:48 GMT

Do you know why Roma women dress in traditional costume? What do the Roma and the mainstream population have in common? What do Roma teenagers think about life and the future?

The Romanit.fi website provides up-to-date information about the Finnish Roma and their culture. The site features teaching material for schools, columns, interviews, useful information for the authorities, and much more. The Romanit.fi website is part of the 'Equality is Priority' project managed by the Ministry of the Interior.

Information about the Finnish Roma: http://romanit.fi/en

Minister of the Interior Päivi Räsänen condemns violence

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 17:38:44 GMT

Minister of the Interior Päivi Räsänen condemns all violent acts against freedom of assembly and freedom of speech. The police are currently conducting an investigation into the violent act committed in the Jyväskylä city library.

“The crime committed in Jyväskylä, its circumstances and possible links will be investigated by the police. They will work hard to establish the full circumstances leading to the incident, including motives of the perpetrators. It is important to wait for the results from the pre-trial investigation before drawing any further conclusions from this incident,” says Ms Räsänen.

Preparedness is for everyone

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 08:00:00 GMT

Margareta Wahlström, the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, will visit Finland on 24 and 25 January. During her visit, Wahlström will speak at the seminar “Preparation is for everyone”, organised by the Ministry of the Interior. She will also have meetings with leaders of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of the Interior and representatives of civil society organisations.

Disasters increase poverty and slow down development. Advance preparation can mean great savings of human life. In the past 20 years, natural disasters have quadrupled and the devastation they cause has increased. It is four times cheaper to prepare for disasters in advance than to repair the destruction they cause.

In the Government’s Development Policy Programme, Finland is committed to strengthening preparedness substantially as an element of development cooperation. Finland has also adopted the so-called Hyogo Framework for Action, which is a UN-led strategy for natural disaster reduction and damage limitation. Finland has a national action programme in line with the UN strategy and a national cooperation network led by the Ministry of the Interior.

Margareta Wahlström has over 30 years of experience in disaster and conflict areas. She has served as Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction since 2008. Before that, she was Assistant-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs responsible for emergency relief coordination.

Wahlström will speak at the seminar “Preparation is for everyone”, held at the House of the Estates in Helsinki 25 January. The seminar topics include arrangements ensuring the security of supply in Finland, preparedness efforts of civil society and companies, warning systems of the Finnish Meteorological Institute, the storms Hannu and Tapani from the perspective of rescue services as well as the draft Bill to improve the security of the electricity supply.

Additional information: Taito Vainio, Senior Officer, Department for Rescue Services, Ministry of the Interior, tel. +358 71 8788 423, Counsellor Kaisa Heikkilä, Unit for Humanitarian Assistance, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 6286 or mobile tel. +358 40 352 0739