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1. Existence of a National Strategy on social inclusion

2. Scope and contents

3. Responsible authority

4. Revisions/ Updates

Existence of a National Strategy on social inclusion

In accordance with legislation (for more information, visit: Youth Wiki/Finland 4.2 Administration and Governance), Finland’s national strategy for the social inclusion of young people is based on the vision of the Government Programme. At the national level, the Government Programme sets the major policy directions to be followed. More specific strategic goals relating to social inclusion of young people are specified in the National Youth Work and Youth Policy Programme. It is the most central public document of youth policy in Finland. Overall, young people should be taken into consideration at two different levels: in youth policy specifically, and at the general policy level as well, see also Government Report on EU Policy.

Scope and contents

According to the Government Programme (2019-) a more inclusive society is promoted, being one of the main themes of the programme. With regards to the social inclusion of young people, the Government’s objective is to incorporate the following measures: creating a model for assessing individually and reliably every child’s ability to attend school, supporting minorities and preventing exclusion, promoting young people’s employment and mental health, addressing substance use and game addiction among young people, ensuring equal opportunities for young people to access face-to-face support as part of the One-Stop Guidance Centres’ (Ohjaamo) activities, and taking into account financial literacy skills and working life skills as part of young people’s well-being.

In the National Youth Work and Youth Policy Programme (2020-2023) the government concretises its youth policy objectives and the measures for attaining them. It is said that social exclusion is prevented more effectively when equal opportunities for a meaningful life for all youths are ensured. The programme, like also the earlier programmes, focuses on those objectives whose attainment will require cross-administrative implementation. Altogether there are 15 measures named. Of those, the following especially address the theme of social inclusion:

 

1. 'Young people’s needs, services and benefits will be identified and taken into consideration in the overhaul of social security.
2. Young people’s capabilities for independent living will improve and the incidence of youth homelessness will decrease.
3. Getting a grip on finances through proactive financial guidance.
4. Improving young people’s interpersonal and interaction skills and intervening in bullying.
5. Discriminatory structures will be identified, and young people’s ability to take action in situations in which they experience discrimination will be increased.
6. Multi-professional cooperation aiming to improve the wellbeing of young people who engage in criminal activity as a symptom of their problems and to prevent juvenile delinquency will be strengthened.
7. Coordinating ways to prevent child and youth grooming on social media.'

Responsible authority

According to the Constitution, the Government submits annual reports to Parliament on governmental activities and on the measures undertaken in response to parliamentary decisions. Also, according to the Government Programme, the Government uses indicators in the follow-up of its strategic objectives and, if necessary, takes corrective measures on the basis of the information.

According to the Youth Act the Ministry of Education and Culture is primarily responsible authority that implements the National Youth Work and Youth Policy Programme in conjunction with various other ministries, such as Ministry of Justice, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, and Ministry of the Environment. For more information, visit: Youth Wiki/Finland 1.3 National Youth Strategy.

Revisions/Updates

The Government Programme 2020-2023 has not undergone revisions or updates.

The Government adopts a new youth policy programme every four year. For more information, visit: Youth Wiki/Finland 1.3 National Youth Strategy.