Ombudsman for Equality

The Ombudsman for Equality

The Ombudsman for Equality is responsible for monitoring the observance of the Act on Equality between Women and Men. The Ombudsman for Equality works as an independent authority within the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.

The Ombudsman for Equality gives advice and counselling on issues relating to the Equality Act.

The current Ombudsman for Equality is Pirkko Mäkinen. 

The Ombudsman for Equality

• supervises compliance with the Act on Equality between Women and Men and the prohibition of discrimination and discriminatory job advertising, in particular
• promotes the purpose of the Act by means of initiatives, advice and counselling
• provides information about the Equality Act and its application
• monitors the implementation of the equality between women and men in different sectors of society.

In addition, the Ombudsman for Equality supervises the implementation of protection of gender minorities against discrimination.

The province of Åland has an Equality Act of its own and its supervision is the responsibility of the Discrimination Ombudsman. The Ombudsman for Equality in Finland supervises the Act on Equality between Women and Men partly in the private sector, in terms of promotion of equality and prohibition of discrimination in working life as well as in terms of provision and pricing of goods and services.