Finland
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- parliamentary republic
- CONSTITUTION
- March 1, 2000; amended several times, last in 2018
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- civil law based on Swedish law; recognizes ICJ jurisdiction as mandatory with reservations
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- unicameral, Parliament (Eduskunta)
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus (composed of the court president and 18 judges); Supreme Administrative Court (composed of 21 judges, including the court president and organized into 3 chambers); 6 Courts of Appeal; 8 regional administrative courts; 27 district courts; special courts for issues related to markets, labor, insurance, impeachment, land, rental, and water rights
RELIGIONS
Lutheran 66.6%, Greek Orthodox 1.1%, other 1.7%, none 30.6% (estimate 2021)
From the country
- JANUARY 1, 2003FinlandDEATH PENALTY
Finland abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes...
Finland abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1949, and for all crimes in 1972
- MAY 3, 2002FinlandDEATH PENALTY
Finland signed Protocol 13 to the European Convention...
Finland signed Protocol 13 to the European Convention on Human Rights, which ensures the abolition of the death penalty in all circumstances
- JANUARY 1, 2002FinlandDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution Act of Finland (1919 as amended in...
The Constitution Act of Finland (1919 as amended in 1995), Section 6, states in part: "Everyone shall have the right to life and personal liberty, physical integrity and security of person
- DECEMBER 13, 2001FinlandDEATH PENALTY
The Finnish parliament said it would refuse to extradite...
The Finnish parliament said it would refuse to extradite a person to a third country if threatened by the death penalty or "other inhumane treatment"
- APRIL 25, 2001FinlandDEATH PENALTY
Finland was a cosponsor of the resolution on the death...
Finland was a cosponsor of the resolution on the death penalty approved by the UN Commission on Human Rights on April 25, 2001
- JANUARY 1, 2001FinlandDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution Act of Finland (1919 as amended in...
The Constitution Act of Finland (1919 as amended in 1995), Section 6, states in part: "Everyone shall have the right to life and personal liberty, physical integrity and security of person
- NOVEMBER 29, 2000FinlandDEATH PENALTY
Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja said he wanted to enhance...
Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja said he wanted to enhance the role of human rights in the Finnish foreign policy on presenting a new report on the government's human rights policy to the Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee
- MARCH 27, 2000FinlandDEATH PENALTY
At the 56th session of the Commission on Human Rights,...
At the 56th session of the Commission on Human Rights, the Minister for Foreign Affairs Erkki Tuomioja said that the use of the death penalty was a serious human rights problem, which jeopardized, interalia, the right to life and the right to freedom from
- JANUARY 1, 2000FinlandDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution Act of Finland (1919 as amended in...
The Constitution Act of Finland (1919 as amended in 1995), Section 6, states in part: "Everyone shall have the right to life and personal liberty, physical integrity and security of person
- NOVEMBER 9, 1999FinlandDEATH PENALTY
On November 9, Ambassador Marjatta Rasi, speaking at...
On November 9, Ambassador Marjatta Rasi, speaking at the Third Committee of the General Assembly on items 116 b), c) and e) on the issue of the abolition of the death penalty, said, "Where the death penalty still exists, the European Union calls, as a fir
- NOVEMBER 2, 1999FinlandDEATH PENALTY
On November 2, Ann Marie Nyroos, speaking at the Third...
On November 2, Ann Marie Nyroos, speaking at the Third Committee of the General Assembly (human rights) under item 116a (death penalty), said the EU is convinced that the abolition of the death penalty contributes to the enhancement of human dignity and t
- APRIL 28, 1999FinlandDEATH PENALTY
Finland was a cosponsor of the resolution on the death...
Finland was a cosponsor of the resolution on the death penalty approved by the UN Commission on Human Rights on April 28 (1999/61)