Source: http://www.law.yale.edu/rcw/rcw/jurisdictions/euron/finland/frontpage.htm
Timestamp: 2014-10-21 03:48:49+00:00

Document:
| Home|Acknowledgments |About Us |Contact Us |Resources |Jurisdiction Research |Research Summary |Terms of Use | Finland[1] [print] Last edited: December 2005
Finland ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child [CRC] in June of 1991, effectively giving it domestic legal authority equivalent to that of Finnish statutes, as provided by both the Constitution at the time of the ratification and the current version.[2] Since the CRC's ratification, Finland has amended child-related legislation in order to incorporate the ideals of the Convention as well as passing numerous new statutes, including the Act on the Status and Rights of Social Welfare Clients, the Security of Child Maintenance Act, and the Young Workers Act. In 1999, the government approved a new Constitution, which included a few of the provisions of the CRC.
Finland's child protection system is decentralized, with the standards of services largely left to municipalities. Child protective proceedings take place before local Social Welfare Boards. The Central Union for Child Welfare, an umbrella organization of NGOs and municipal agencies, provides training, research, and lobbying for children's rights. September 2005 marked the establishment of Finland's first Ombudsman for Children, an authority working with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health to promote and monitor the implementation of the rights of children. Finland gives all children the right to express their views in protective proceedings through several articles of legislation. Not only is this specified in the Child Welfare Act, the Child Custody and Right of Access Act, the Act on the Status and Rights of Social Welfare Clients, and the Child Custody and Right of Access Decree, but the new Constitution reaffirms this right. Furthermore, legislation provides that in determining the best interests of the child, welfare officials must consider the wishes of the child. Children over the age of 15 are treated as parties to the cases and their consent must be obtained for certain actions. Children over 12 have considerable influence in the deciding of cases. The Act on the Status and Rights of Social Welfare Clients also provides for the application to the Guardianship Services Board for the appointment of a guardian (in this case, someone performing the role of a guardian ad litem) when the interests of a child and his parents are contradictory. If a guardian is appointed, that guardian must ascertain the wishes of the child. Legislation does not specify that the guardian must convey those wishes to the court. It is also unclear if all children in protective proceedings have guardians appointed for them; the Guardianship Services Board has the power to reject an application for the appointment of a guardian, but the Board may have informal rules requiring that appointment in protective proceedings.
Suomen perustuslaki[3]
. . . Lapsia on kohdeltava tasa-arvoisesti yksilöinä, ja heidän tulee saada vaikuttaa itseään koskeviin asioihin kehitystään vastaavasti . . . International Law
Yleissopimus lapsen oikeuksista[4]
Lastensuojelulaki[5]
10 § Lapsen edun selvittäminen ja lapsen puhevalta Lapsen etua selvitettäessä on otettava huomioon lapsen omat toivomukset ja mielipide, perehdyttävä lapsen kasvuoloihin sekä arvioitava, miten eri lastensuojelutoimet todennäköisesti vaikuttavat lapsen kehitykseen.
Huoltajan ohella on 15 vuotta täyttäneellä lapsella oikeus käyttää puhevaltaa häntä itseään koskevassa lastensuojeluasiassa. Lastensuojeluasiassa on 12 vuotta täyttäneelle lapselle varattava tilaisuus tulla kuulluksi siten kuin kuulemisesta hallintolain (434/2003) 34 §:ssä säädetään. Kaksitoista vuotta täyttäneellä lapsella on myös oikeus vaatia 13 §:ssä tarkoitettuja sosiaalipalveluja ja muita tukitoimia. (30.12.2003/1358) Lapsen asioista vastaavan sosiaalityöntekijän on valvottava lapsen edun toteutumista, avustettava virkansa puolesta lasta sekä ohjattava häntä tarvittaessa saamaan riittävää apua. (9.2.1990/139) 14 § (9.2.1990/139) Perhehoito ja laitoshuolto tukitoimena
Lapselle voidaan järjestää avohuollon tukitoimena perhehoitoa tai laitoshuoltoa yhdessä hänen vanhempansa, huoltajansa tai sen henkilön kanssa, jonka hoidossa ja kasvatuksessa lapsi on. Kaksitoista vuotta täyttäneelle tätä hoitoa tai huoltoa voidaan järjestää myös yksin häneen kohdistuvana, jos hän itse sitä pyytää tai siihen suostuu. Alle 12-vuotiaalle lapselle sitä voidaan järjestää yksin lapseen kohdistuvana enintään kolmen kuukauden ajaksi, kun lapsen huolenpitoa ei muutoin voida järjestää hänen huoltajansa tai sen henkilön sairauden johdosta, jonka hoidossa ja kasvatuksessa lapsi on, taikka muun vastaavan syyn tähden. Mainittua hoitoa tai huoltoa voidaan erityisestä syystä jatkaa enintään kolme kuukautta.
17 § (9.2.1990/139) Kuuleminen ja päätöksen alistaminen
Sosiaalilautakunnan on ennen päätöstä lapsen huostaanotosta, sijaishuoltoon sijoittamisesta ja huostassapidon lopettamisesta aina, kun se on lapsen ikä ja kehitystaso huomioon ottaen mahdollista, selvitettävä lapsen omat toivomukset ja mielipide esillä olevista ratkaisuista sekä varattava 12 vuotta täyttäneelle lapselle, lapsen vanhemmille, lapsen huoltajille sekä henkilölle, jonka hoidossa ja kasvatuksessa lapsi tällöin on tai on välittömästi ennen asian valmistelua ollut, tilaisuus tulla kuulluksi siten kuin kuulemisesta hallintolain 34 §:ssä säädetään. Henkilölle, jota on edellä mainitulla tavalla kuultava, on myös annettava tiedoksi lapsen huostaanottamista, sijaishuoltoon sijoittamista tai huostassapidon lopettamista koskeva päätös siten kuin hallintolaissa todisteellisesta tiedoksiannosta säädetään. Lautakunnan on lisäksi tarvittaessa kuultava lapsen kasvun ja kehityksen asiantuntijoita. (30.12.2003/1358) Jos 12 vuotta täyttänyt lapsi tai hänen huoltajansa vastustaa huostaanottamista tai siihen liittyvää sijaishuoltoon sijoittamista taikka jos mainitussa asiassa ei ole voitu suorittaa 1 momentin edellyttämää kuulemista, on päätös alistettava 30 päivän kuluessa [lääninoikeuden] vahvistettavaksi . . . 35 § (9.2.1990/139) Muutoksenhaku
Muutoksenhausta tässä laissa tarkoitetuissa asioissa on soveltuvin osin voimassa, mitä sosiaalihuoltolain 7 luvussa on säädetty, jollei jäljempänä toisin säädetä. Lisäksi 12 vuotta täyttänyt lapsi saa hakea muutosta 13 §:n 1 momentissa tarkoitetussa asiassa.
Muutosta lapsen huostaanottoa, sijaishuoltoon sijoittamista sekä huostassapidon lakkaamista koskevassa asiassa saavat hakea 12 vuotta täyttänyt lapsi, hänen vanhempansa, hänen huoltajansa sekä henkilö, jonka hoidossa ja kasvatuksessa lapsi on tai on välittömästi ennen asian valmistelua ollut.
Laki lapsen huollosta ja tapaamisoikeudesta[6] 9 § Tuomioistuimen päätös lapsen huollosta ja tapaamisoikeudesta
. . . Tuomioistuimen on ratkaistessaan lapsen huoltoa ja tapaamisoikeutta koskeva asia otettava huomioon lapsen etu ja lapsen omat toivomukset siten kuin 10 ja 11 §:ssä säädetään.
11 § Lapsen toivomusten ja mielipiteen selvittäminen
Lapsen huoltoa ja tapaamisoikeutta koskevassa asiassa on selvitettävä lapsen omat toivomukset ja mielipide sikäli kuin se on lapsen ikään ja kehitystasoon nähden mahdollista, jos vanhemmat eivät ole asiasta yksimieliset, jos lapsi on muun henkilön kuin huoltajansa hoidettavana taikka jos tätä muutoin on pidettävä lapsen edun kannalta aiheellisena.
Lapsen mielipide on selvitettävä hienovaraisesti ja ottaen huomioon lapsen kehitysaste sekä siten, että tästä ei aiheudu haittaa lapsen ja hänen vanhempiensa välisille suhteille.
15 § Vanhemman ja huoltajan sekä lapsen kuuleminen
Lapsen huoltoa tai tapaamisoikeutta koskevaa asiaa käsiteltäessä on tuomioistuimen varattava lapsen vanhemmille ja huoltajalle tilaisuus tulla kuulluiksi, jos kutsu voidaan antaa heille tiedoksi.
39 § (4.3.1994/186) Lapsen kuuleminen
Ennen kuin hovioikeus ratkaisee hakemuksen vieraassa valtiossa annetun, lapsen huoltoa tai tapaamisoikeutta koskevan päätöksen täytäntöönpanosta tai lapsen palauttamisesta, hovioikeuden on selvitettävä lapsen mielipide, jos lapsen voidaan ikänsä tai muiden hovioikeuden tietoon tulleiden seikkojen vuoksi olettaa saavuttaneen sellaisen kypsyyden, että lapsen mielipiteeseen on aiheellista kiinnittää huomiota.
Lapsen mielipiteen selvittämisessä on soveltuvin osin noudatettava, mitä 15 ja 16 §:ssä säädetään.
Hovioikeuden on pyytäessään selvitystä sosiaalilautakunnalta kehotettava sitä toimittamaan selvitys kiireellisesti.
Laki sosiaalihuollon asiakkaan asemasta ja oikeuksista[7]
Laki holhoustoimesta[8]
Kuuleminen ei kuitenkaan ole tarpeen, jos päämies ei kykene ymmärtämään asian merkitystä. Jos päämies on alaikäinen, on myös hänen huoltajansa mielipidettä tiedusteltava 1 momentissa säädetyin tavoin.
Asetus lapsen huollosta ja tapaamisoikeudesta[9] 3 § Kun tuomioistuin lapsen huollosta ja tapaamisoikeudesta annetun lain 15 §:n 2 momentin tai 39 §:n 2 momentin nojalla päättää kuulla lasta henkilökohtaisesti, päätöksessä on mainittava ne seikat, joiden vuoksi lapsen kuulemista on painavista syistä pidettävä välttämättömänä asian ratkaisemisen kannalta.
6 § Kun Helsingin hovioikeus lapsen huollosta ja tapaamisoikeudesta annetun lain 39 §:n nojalla pyytää sosiaalilautakuntaa selvittämään lapsen mielipiteen, pyyntö on osoitettava sen kunnan sosiaalilautakunnalle, missä lapsi saadun selvityksen mukaan oleskelee. Pyyntöön sovelletaan muutoin, mitä 1 §:ssä säädetään.
9 § Kun sosiaalilautakunnalle on tehty 6 §:ssä tarkoitettu pyyntö, sosiaalilautakunnan on kiireisesti selvitettävä lapsen mielipide. Selvitykseen sovelletaan, mitä 8 §:n 2 momentissa säädetään.
11 § Kun sosiaalilautakunta on saanut tiedon siitä, että lapsi on huoltajan kuoleman johdosta jäänyt vaille huoltajaa, sosiaalilautakunnan on neuvoteltava asiasta lapselle läheisten henkilöiden kanssa ja tarvittaessa tehtävä tuomioistuimelle hakemus huoltajan ja holhoojan määräämisestä lapselle.
Constitution of Finland[11]
§ 6 Equality
. . . Children shall be treated equally and as individuals and they shall be allowed to influence matters pertaining to themselves to a degree corresponding to their level of development . . . International Law
Convention on the Rights of the Child, [12] ratified Jun. 20, 1991
Ascertainment of the best interests of a child and hearing of a child In ascertaining the best interests of a child, his wishes and views shall be taken into account, his growing environment shall be studied and due consideration shall be given to the probable effects of alternative child welfare measures applicable to him.
Besides custodians, a child who has attained the age of 15 is entitled to a say in child welfare cases concerning himself. A child who has attained the age of 12 is entitled to be heard in child welfare cases as stipulated in section 34 of the Administrative Procedures Act (434/2003). A child who has attained the age of 12 is also entitled to demand social services and other support referred to in section 13. (30.12.2003/1358)
Social workers responsible for child welfare must see to it that the child's best interests are realised, assist a child in their official capacity and advise him in obtaining sufficient aid when necessary. (9.2.1990/139)
§ 14 (9.2.1990/139)
Foster care and residential care as assistance Foster or residential care can be provided for a child as assistance in open care together with his parents, custodians, or with the person responsible for his care and upbringing. Such care can also be arranged individually for a child who has attained the age of 12 if the child himself has so requested or has given his consent. For a child under the age of twelve such individual care can be provided for a maximum of three months when the care cannot be arranged otherwise due to illness of the custodian or of the person responsible for his care and upbringing, or for similar reasons. Such care can be extended for a maximum of three months if there are special grounds.
§ 17 (9.2.1990/139)
Hearing of experts and the parties concerned. Submission of the decision.
Before taking a child into care, arranging substitute care or terminating care, the local social welfare board must always, taking the age and developmental level of the child into account whenever possible, ascertain the child's own wishes and opinions concerning the decisions to be made, and provide a child who have attained the age of twelve, his parents, custodians and the persons currently in charge of his care and upbringing or who were in charge immediately prior to the case in question, an opportunity to be heard, as stipulated in section 34 of the Administrative Procedures Act. Persons who are entitled to be heard in the manner mentioned above must also be notified of any decisions concerning taking into care, placement in substitute care, or termination of care as stipulated in the Administrative Procedures Act on evidential notification. The board may also hear experts on child growth and development (30.12.2003/1358).
If a child who has attained the age of 12 or his custodians oppose taking into care or related placement in substitute care, or if the hearing required by para 1 could not be arranged, the decision must be submitted within thirty days [to the Provincial Administrative Court] for approval . . . § 35 (9.2.1990/139)
The relevant provisions of chapter 7 of the Social Welfare Act shall be applicable to any appeal from a decision made under this Act, unless otherwise stipulated below. A child who has attained the age of 12 may also appeal in the cases referred to in section 13, para 1.
A child who has attained the age of 12, his parents, his custodians, and the person responsible for his care and upbringing or who was responsible immediately prior to the case in question, may appeal in cases concerning taking into care of a child, placement in substitute care or termination of the care.
Child Custody and Right of Access Act[14]
§ 9 Court decision on child custody and right of access
. . . When making a decision in a case relating to child custody and right of access, the court shall take the best interests and the wishes of the child into account, as provided for in sections 10 and 11.
§ 11 Ascertainment of the wishes and views of the child
In a matter relating to child custody and right of access the wishes and views of the child himself shall be ascertained in so far as this is possible in view of the age and stage of development of the child, if the parents cannot reach an agreement on the matter, if the child is in the care of someone else than the custodian or if this is otherwise to be deemed appropriate with regard to the best interests of the child.
The views of the child shall be ascertained tactfully, taking his stage of development into account, and in a manner not detrimental to the relationships between the child and his parents.
§ 15 Hearing of parent and custodian and of the child
When considering a case relating to child custody or right of access, the court shall reserve the parents and the custodian of the child the opportunity to be heard, if a summons can be served on them.
The child may be heard in person before the court, if there is a substantial reason that makes this necessary in view of the decision in the case. He may only be heard if he consents to the same and if it is evident that the hearing cannot cause harm to the child.
§ 39 (4.3.1994/186)
Hearing the child Before the court of appeal makes a resolution on an application for the enforcement of a decision on child custody or right of access given in a foreign state or for the return of a child, it shall ascertain the opinion of the child, if he is, on the basis of his age or other circumstances in the knowledge of the court, to be presumed to have attained such a degree of maturity that it is appropriate to take his opinion into account.
The provisions in sections 15 and 16 shall be applied in the ascertainment of the opinion of the child, where appropriate.
When requesting the report of the social welfare board, the court of appeal shall make an exhortation for urgency.
Act on the Status and Rights of Social Welfare Clients[15]
§10 The position of child as a client
Child clients' wishes and opinion must be clarified and taken into account according to the age and developmental level. All the actions of public or private social welfare, that concern children, must first and foremost take into consideration what is best for the child. If in a particular case concerning an underage person there is a substantiated reason to believe that the guardian can not objectively look after the child's benefit, the operational organ referred to in section 6 of the Social Welfare Law must then file an application mentioned in section 72 of the law given on guardianship, or the announcement for appointing a guardian for a minor referred to in section 91, if it is important for safeguarding the interest of the minor. Guardianship Services Act[16]
Hearing the Ward
(1) Before the guardian makes a decision in a matter falling within his/her task, he/she shall inquire the opinion of the ward, if the matter is to be deemed important from the ward's point of view and if the hearing can be arranged without considerable inconvenience.
(2) However, no hearing shall be necessary if the ward cannot understand the significance of the matter.
(3) If the ward is a minor, also the opinion of his/her custodian shall be inquired, as provided in paragraph (1).
Child Custody and Right of Access Decree[17]
When the court decides to hear the child in person, in accordance with section 15(2) or section 39(2) of the Child Custody and Right of Access Act, the decision shall indicate the circumstances establishing a significant reason that makes the hearing necessary in view of the resolution of the case.
When the court issues an interim order in a case relating to child custody or right of access, the decision shall indicate that the order is to remain in force during the proceedings and until the court makes a decision in the case.
When the Helsinki Court of Appeal requests, in accordance with section 39 of the Child Custody and Right of Access Act, that the social welfare board ascertain the opinion of the child, the request shall be made to the social welfare board of the municipality where the available information indicates the child to live. The request shall otherwise be subject to the provisions in section 1.
When a request referred to in section 6 is made to the social welfare board, it shall urgently ascertain the opinion of the child. The provisions in section 8(2) shall be applied.
When the social welfare board is notified of the death of a custodian, resulting in the loss of child custody, it shall consult with persons close to the child and make an application to the court on the appointment of a custodian and a guardian, where necessary.
When a child is, due to a reason other than that referred in section 1, permanently in the care of someone else than his custodian or custodians, the social welfare board shall take measures to arrange the custody of the child by agreement of the parents or by a court decision, if this is warranted in the best interest of the child. When considering the matter, the social welfare board shall pay special attention to the own wishes and opinion of the child and to the relationship between the child and the parents or other custodians.
The Child Welfare Act (683/1983) contains provisions on the taking of a child into protective care by the social welfare board in situations where he is in immediate danger or otherwise in urgent need of protective care.
Lastensuojelen Keskusliitto� Central Union for Child Welfare (In Finnish, Swedish, and English): http://www.lskl.fi/ Mannerheimin Lastensuojeluliitto� Mannerheim League for Child Welfare (In Finnish, Swedish, and English): http://www.mll.fi/ Sosiaali- Ja Terveysministeriö� Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (In Finnish, Swedish, and English): http://www.stm.fi/ Eduskunnan Oikeusasiamies� Parliamentary Ombudsman of Finland (In Finnish, Swedish, Sami, German, French, Estonian, Russian, and English): http://www.oikeusasiamies.fi/
[2] Suomen Hallitusmuoto, 94/1919, §33 (1995) available at http://www.oefre.unibe.ch/law/icl/fi01000_.html; Suomen perustuslaki [Fin. Const.], 731/1999, § 95 available at http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/ajantasa/1999/19990731 and also here, and also as .pdf Document, and also as Word Document.
[3] Suomen perustuslaki, 731/1999, § 6, supra note 1. [4] G.A. Res. 44/125, U.N. GAOR, 44th Session, Supp. No. 49, U.N. Doc. A/44/736 (1989) available at http://www.unicef.fi/_media/pdf/Lasten_oik_sopimus.pdf.
[5] Lastensuojelulaki [Child Welfare Act], 683/1983, §10, 14, 17, 35 (2003) available at http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/ajantasa/1983/19830683 and also here, and also as .pdf Document, and also as Word Document.
[6] Laki lapsen huollosta ja tapaamisoikeudesta [Child Custody and Right of Access Act], 361/1983, §9, 11, 15, 39 (2004) available at http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/alkup/1983/19830361 and also here, and also as .pdf Document, and also as Word Document.
[7] Laki sosiaalihuollon asiakkaan asemasta ja oikeuksista [Act on the Status and Rights of Social Welfare Clients], 812/2000, §10 available at http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/alkup/2000/20000812 and also here, and also as .pdf Document, and also as Word Document.
[8] Laki holhoustoimesta [Guardianship Services Act], 442/1999, §43 available at http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/ajantasa/1999/19990442 and also here, and also as .pdf Document, and also as Word Document.
[9] Asetus lapsen huollosta ja tapaamisoikeudesta [Child Custody and Right of Access Decree], 556/1994, §3, 6, 9, 11 available at http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/alkup/1994/19940556 and also here, and also as .pdf Document, and also as Word Document.
[10] All of the translations are unofficial. Most were provided by Finland's Ministry of Justice. The translation of the Child Welfare Act was updated by our own translator, who also translated the sections of the Act on the Status and Rights of Social Welfare Clients. [11] Fin. Const., 731/1999, §6 available at http://www.om.fi/21910.htm and also as .pdf Document.
[13] Child Welfare Act, 683/1983, §10, 14, 17, 35 (2003) (1999 version available at http://www.finlex.fi/en/laki/kaannokset/1983/19830683 and also as .pdf Document.
[14] Child Custody and Right of Access Act, 361/1983, §9, 11, 15, 39 (1994 version available here, and also as .pdf Document, and also as Word Document.
[15] Act on the Status and Rights of Social Welfare Clients, 812/2000, §10. [16] Guardianship Services Act, 442/1999, §43 available at http://www.finlex.fi/en/laki/kaannokset/1999/en19990442 and also as .pdf Document.
[17] Child Custody and Right of Access Decree, 556/1994, §3, 6, 9, 11 available at http://www.finlex.fi/en/laki/kaannokset/1994/en19940556.pdf and also as .pdf Document.

References: tuomioistuin 

§ 6

§ 14

§ 17
 § 35

§ 9

§ 11

§ 15

§ 39

§10
 §33
 § 95
 § 6
 §10
 §9
 §10
 §43
 §3
 §6
 §10
 §9
 §10
 §43
 §3