Algeria >> Finland, Recommendation, 41st session, November 2022

The National Action Plan for the Implementation of the Istanbul Convention 2022-2025 includes a total of 36 measures aimed at, for example, preventing violence against women and improving access to services intended for victims and perpetrators of violence. One of the main objectives of the plan is to strengthen the consideration of the gender perspective in the implementation of the Istanbul Convention. The Government Action Plan for Gender Equality includes a number of measures related to combating violence against women. The Government Report on Gender Equality also pays strong attention to gender-based violence. The Committee for Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (NAPE), which acts as the coordination body referred to in Article 10 of the Istanbul Convention, is allocated permanent funding. In addition, Parliament has allocated additional funding for the implementation of the Istanbul Convention. The Non-Discrimination Ombudsman acts as a Rapporteur on violence against women. The Rapporteur was appointed to the Ombudsman on 1 January 2022. The task of the Rapporteur on violence against women is to monitor violence against women and domestic violence, the functioning of national legislation and the fulfilment of international obligations. The rapporteur is independent and autonomous. The Action Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Istanbul Convention were drawn up in cooperation to avoid overlaps. The implementation of the Action Plan to Reduce Violence against Women will end in spring 2023. Instead, the preparation and implementation of the Action Plan for the Istanbul Convention (current plan for the period 2022-2025) is a continuous process. The National Action Plan for the implementation of the Lanzarote Convention 2022-2025 includes altogether 33 measures that deal with the protection of children against sexual harassment and sexual violence. The National Action Plan on Non-Violent Childhoods 2020-2025 also contains a number of measures aiming to eliminate violence and consider girls. Finland has an Action Plan for the Prevention of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). An interim evaluation of the programme will be carried out in 2023. ... Since 2015, the number of shelters has increased from 19 shelters to 29 shelters, and the number of family places in shelters has been increased from 114 to the present 228 family places. According to current plans, there will be 240 family places in shelters in Finland by the beginning of 2024. Another priority is to find shelter places also in the Sámi areas in Northern Finland. A total of 21 support centres for victims of sexual violence have been established in Finland (Seri support centres). The aim is to have 24 support centres by the end of 2023. At the end of 2022, Parliament adopted the Acts on improving the effectiveness of restraining orders, which will enter into force on 1 October 2023 (HE 144/2022). The reform will make applying for a restraining order free of charge even if the application is rejected or the matter is withdrawn. This means that in future, matters concerning restraining orders will always be free of charge. The criminal investigation shall be conducted without undue delay. Once the criminal investigation has been completed, the police will refer the case to the prosecutor. The prosecutor shall bring charges for the suspected offence if he or she considers that there are probable grounds to support the guilt of the suspect. The prosecutor is obliged to see to the enforcement of criminal liability in a matter being considered by him or her without delay. Offences subject to public prosecution proceed in the criminal proceedings even if the victim does not request the investigation of the offence. Low and middle incomes may be eligible for state legal aid. In this case, the attorney’s fee is paid in part or in full by the state. The court may, under certain conditions, also appoint a legal counsel and a support person for a victim of intimate partner violence, a sexual offence or a serious offence against life, health or liberty regardless of income. In this case, their fees are paid by the State regardless of the victim’s income. Previous development measures will be continued. In recent years, special attention has been paid to violence against women in the police, for example by reforming guidelines and providing training on the comprehensive reform of the legislation on sexual offences.