A/HRC/8/24
Page 15
is under preparation in Finland. As previously stated, the solution Finland is trying to find is going
to be drafted on the basis of the use of land, water and natural resources and not as a land title
question. The land title question or ownership issue is a private law issue as Finland sees it and is
not going to be solved in this connection.
48. The delegation of Finland stated that her Government had studied the Yogyakarta Principles
and stated that they are a useful tool to bring clarity and coherence to States’ human rights
obligations. Regarding the question by Cuba concerning the issue of Finland’s development
assistance, Finland noted that the Government is committed to certain goals in the future. Regarding
the question raised by Cuba about the alcohol problem of the Finnish population, the delegate of
Finland stated that Finland is fully aware of the problem and has a full set of measures to address
this issue and it strives towards a better result.
49. In summing up, the head of the delegation expressed her gratitude for a very pleasant
experience and thanked the Chair, members of the troika and the Working Group for the sincere and
constructive dialogue. The Finnish delegation looked forward with a constructive and open attitude
to receiving recommendations and follow-up proposals which will enable further promotion of the
human rights situation in Finland. The delegation stated that it sees the UPR as a continuing process
and that the Government is drafting an extensive report on human rights policy in Finland.
Conclusions and recommendations from the UPR process will form an important part of that report,
which the Government will present to Parliament in spring 2009. Already the drafting of the UPR
was done in parallel with the preparations of the human rights report. In conclusion, the head of the
delegation emphasized the importance Finland attaches to the UPR mechanism.
II. CONCLUSIONS AND/OR RECOMMENDATIONS
50. Finland considered the recommendations made during the interactive dialogue and
listed below, and agrees to follow up on them:
1.
To increase the focus, targeted efforts and effective measures regarding eliminating
discrimination, and to make further efforts and measures to promote the rights of
minorities, inter alia, ethnic minorities (Netherlands, Russian Federation).
2.
To strengthen efforts to restrict any outbreaks of racism and xenophobia,
particularly manifestations of racism and discrimination on the Internet, as
recommended by CERD (Mexico).
3.
To continue to take effective measures to prevent violence against women (Mexico,
Russian Federation) and to compile information on the violence against children
within the family (Russian Federation).
4.
To consider ratifying the International Convention for the Protection of the Rights
of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (Algeria, Bolivia, Ecuador,
Egypt, Mexico).
5.
To consider ratifying ILO Convention No. 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in
Independent Countries (Bolivia).
6.
To continue reviewing the procedures regarding requests for asylum in the light of
the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol
(Bolivia).
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