On this page

1. Formal Mechanisms of Consultation

2. Actors

3. Information on the extent of youth participation

4. Outcomes

5. Large-scale initiatives for dialogue or debate between public institutions and young people

Formal Mechanisms of Consultation

The consultation of children and young people in Finland has a solid legal basis as it is included as a guiding principle in the top-level national legislation. According to the Constitution, public authorities shall promote opportunities for the individual to participate in societal activity and influence the decisions that concern him or her. It also states that democracy entails the right of the individual to participate in and influence the development of society and his or her living conditions. The Youth Act highlights the fact that young people must also be given opportunities to take part in the handling of matters related to local and national youth work and youth policy. Furthermore, young people shall be heard in matters concerning them.

The Local Government Act and Act on Wellbeing services counties (in Finnish) state that all their residents (or also other service users) should be given the right to take part in discussion forums and resident panels, for example in planning and developing services regardless of their age. All residents who are at least 15 years of age may submit a referendum initiative. The role of the local council is to ensure that there are diverse and effective opportunities for participation. All residents, regardless of their age, also have the right to submit initiatives on matters concerning the municipality’s or county’s activities. The acts also state that "the action undertaken as a result of an initiative must be notified to those who submitted the initiative." 

At national level, consultation (kuuleminen) is an established part of the ministries' legislative drafting processes. In accordance with the instructions and guidelines of the Ministry of Justice for legislative projects concerning youth policy and policies affecting young people, the representatives from youth organisations, youth research community and other relevant stakeholders are appointed to a preparatory body by the Ministry of Education and Culture. Stakeholder consultations are carried out to hear to hear opinions from all the relevant target groups. In consultation with the stakeholders, both traditional listening methods - such as written comments - and modern information and communication technology are used. Some of the stakeholders are also heard in Parliament at the Committee debate. 

Actors

Youth Actors

At national level, the Union of Local Youth Councils in Finland and national student unions (for more information, visit: Youth Wiki/Finland: 5.3 Youth representation bodies) are the main actors that represent young people during the consultation processes.

According to the Youth Act, the State Youth Council is a consultative body attached to the Ministry of Education and Culture, which has expertise in young people’s living conditions. Most of its members are nominated by national youth and youth work organisations.

There are also civic organisations that promote children’s and young people´s rights and their possibilities to participate and be heard. Additionally, the Ministry of Education and Culture listens to these organisations during its youth consultation process. The representation of youth in these processes is often coordinated by the Finnish National Youth Council Allianssi, which is a registered organisation for promoting the interest of Finnish young people, youth organisations and youth work in national and international arenas.

One of the key values of the Finnish National Youth Council Allianssi is to promote youth participation and make young people´s voice heard. It participates in several different expert bodies and working groups of the central authorities. It also offers expert services and information for youth organisations, youth workers and young people to develop the possibilities of youth participation and its impact. 

Specific target groups

The Ombudsman for Children has its own consultation system where the primary aim is to taking into account of the opinions of young people from different cultural backgrounds or those with special needs when planning welfare services. 

The National Council on Disability VANE is a cooperative organ for authorities, disability organisations, and organisations for relatives of disabled people. It closely follows decision-making in society, issues statements and promotes the real implementation of human rights for disabled people. The Council works in close connection with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (for more information, visit Youth Wiki/Finland 4.2 Administration and governance).

Public authorities

All public authorities are obligated to consult young people in decision-making. 

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Information on the extent of youth participation

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Outcomes

The youth consultations are used to integrate young people’s opinions into policy-making, but the content varies. In some examples, young people have participated in defining the content and goals of something like the Youth Act consultation process. On the other hand, young people participate in the evaluation of how the National Youth Work and Youth Policy Programme are realised during the different programme periods as part of an evaluation organised by the State Youth Council. In this context, the aim of the consultation is to invite young people to assess the implementation of the actual programme and to affect the preparation of the next.

The outcomes of the consultations are made available publicly on the websites of the Ministries in the form of published reports and often in more youth-friendly formats. According to the Democracy Policy Programme (-2019), in the future the results of consultations will be described in more detail, such as in the Government’s Proposals on the enactment of various laws.

Large-scale initiatives for dialogue or debate between public institutions and young people

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