Pursuing equality and non-discrimination

On 12 June 2023, the Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications published an operational gender equality and non-discrimination plan for 2023–2025. The aim of the plan is to promote equality and non-discrimination in the activities and decision-making of the administrative branch.

The plan includes measures and ambitious targets with the aim of establishing a fair operating environment for all who work or use services in the field of transport and communications. The plan is a framework for how the Ministry and the agencies in its administrative branch will promote gender equality and non-discrimination in their own activities.

The plan was prepared by the Ministry together with the agencies in its administrative branch.

Impact on society

Digital connections and transport and communications services allow people to participate in society. For this reason, the authorities must consider how the ageing population and need to fight discrimination and improve accessibility affect their work.

The plan sets aims for six operational sectors within the scope of the Ministry and its administrative branch. The action plan includes 24 measures.

The operational sectors are:

1. Management, guidance and administration

The aim of management and guidance is to ensure that the principles of equality and non-discrimination are reflected in all planning, development, guidance, budgeting and monitoring activities carried out by the Ministry and its administrative branch.

2. Impact assessment and research

Gender equality and non-discrimination impact assessment should be a natural part of all preparatory processes from the very beginning. The aim is to incorporate operational gender equality and non-discrimination in the administrative branch’s research, foresight, review and analysis projects.

3. Education

The aim is to equip people with the readiness to promote operational gender equality and non-discrimination in the everyday running of the Ministry and the agencies in its administrative branch.

4. Influencing and communications

The aim is to improve the communications activities of the Ministry and its administrative branch from the point of view of equality and non-discrimination. Raising awareness changes attitudes and improves dialogue on the subject.

5. Participation and social inclusion

The aim is to promote opportunities for different demographic groups to be heard when transport and communications policies are being prepared, for example by means of technical solutions and increased communications.

6. Non-discrimination in transport and communication services

Participation in society is practically impossible without transportation and communications services and the related administration and infrastructure. The aim in this sector is to improve the knowledge base for non-discrimination and equality in transport and communications and to make better use of this knowledge base.

The plan will be implemented as part of the Ministry’s ordinary official duties. The chair of the working group promoting operational gender equality and non-discrimination in the Ministry and its administrative branch is Director General Laura Eiro of the Ministry of Transport and Communications. The secretary of the working group is the Ministry’s Director of Legislative Affairs, Kimmo Kiiski. The working group includes representatives from the Ministry and each of the agencies in the Ministry’s administrative branch (Finnish Meteorological Institute, Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom and Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency).

Next step?

The implementation of the plan will be monitored by the network for operational gender equality and non-discrimination under the Ministry and its administrative branch.

The plan for operational gender equality and non-discrimination in the Ministry of Transport and Communications and its administrative branch for 2023–2025 is available at the Institutional Repository for the Government (Valto).

Inquiries:

Director General Laura Eiro, tel. +358 295 342 166, laura.eiro(at)gov.fi

Director of Legislative Affairs Kimmo Kiiski, tel. +358 295 342 304, kimmo.kiiski(at)gov.fi