Activity of Tasa-arvovaltuutettu [Ombudsman for Equality]
Aims and objectives
TAV is an independent authority within the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, monitoring compliance with the Act on Equality between Women and Men. TAV is thus a judicial ombudsman to be contacted in cases or suspicions of:
- gender, sex or sexual orientation-related direct or indirect discrimination
- sexual or sexual orientation-related harassment
Creator/owner/responsible institution
Name: Tasa-arvovaltuutettu [Ombudsman for Equality]
Stakeholder: Equality Body
Area of intervention: Men and gender equality
Organisation Country: Finland
Organisation Phone: 358 9 16073248; 358 9 16074433
Contact person:
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Name: Pirkko Mäkinen
Contents/activities/services
Activities
- TAV found that a certain shipping company's campaign to offer cruises only for women ("two ladies for the price of one") was against the law as it placed male travellers in an unequal position (2007).
- TAV has repeatedly remarked that different retirement ages for women and men are against the Gender Equality Act. Also supplementary pension schemes are illegal if the grounds for pension accrual are different for women and men (2008).
- TAV took a stand regarding discrimination against men in the housing market and placing men at a disadvantage compared to women concerning family-leave related benefits (2008).
- TAV initiated a study on the application of the Act on Equality between Women and Men in general courts and administrative courts between 2005 and 2008.
- Numerous statements on matters brought to TAV's attention, many of which have concerned men experiencing gender-related discrimination.
Materials
Several brochures on Gender Equality, but prior to 2007.