In 1956 the Finnish Government set up an Advisory
Board on Gipsy Affairs in conjunction with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. In
1989 the Board was given permanent status and its name changed to the Advisory Board on
Romani Affairs. The Board serves as a link between the Romani people in Finland and the
public authorities. Its members are appointed every three years by the Finnish Government.
Half of the 18 members represent the Roma, and the other half represent central
government.
The Advisory Board’s role covers:
- monitoring and reporting to the authorities on the
development of the Romani people’s living conditions and opportunities for social
participation;
- taking initiatives to improve the economic,
educational, social and cultural living conditions of the Romani people and to promote the
employment of Roma;
- working to end all forms of discrimination;
- furthering Romani language and culture; and
- participating in international cooperation to
improve conditions for the Roma.
The Advisory Board has influenced developments in
Finnish legislation and administration in areas which affect the Roma. It contributed to
the introduction of positive discrimination in providing special home loans for Roma. It
was also an initiative by the Advisory Board which led to the establishment in 1992 of a
unit in the National Board of Education with responsibility for vocational training for
the Roma; this later developed into the Romani Education Unit. Its functions include the
production of educational material for the Roma and the development of adult vocational
training tailored to their needs. Similar positive results of cooperation include the
addition to the Finnish Constitution during the 1995 reform of constitutional rights of
the obligation on the public authorities to take Romani language and culture into account,
and the criminalisation in the Penal Code of racial discrimination.
The Advisory Board’s work focuses on:
- increasing participation by the Romani people;
- strengthening the relevant statutory framework,
and fundamental rights in particular;
- ensuring that Romani language and culture are
taken into account in day care and the schools;
- improving the educational level of the Roma;
- disseminating information on social and healthcare
issues and special features of Romani culture;
- in the area of housing, providing information for
the provincial State offices and local authorities to help develop cooperation between the
Romani people, housing officials and said local authorities;
- clarifying the priorities of the policy on Roma
and strengthening the position of the Romani minority; and
- developing international cooperation in questions
which touch the Romani people.