Swedish People’s Party of Finland’s gender equality manifesto

The Swedish People’s Party of Finland works for a Finland where gender equality is a given. A country where everyone, regardless of gender, has the same right to shape their lives, take part in decision-making, and contribute to society. A country where every person’s gender identity is recognised and respected in legislation. Gender equality is one of the cornerstones of our politics. When people are treated equally and their potential is put to use, we all benefit.

The Swedish People’s Party of Finland’s position on gender equality is feminist—it is based on the conviction that genuine freedom requires equality between the genders. A society is only free when it is equal, and that requires respect for individual freedom. We want gender equality to be present in every decision, regardless of whether it concerns the economy, healthcare, climate policy, or any other area.

Gender equality is about both rights and responsibilities. We must actively fight discrimination and injustice, while also creating the conditions for everyone to participate on equal terms. Politics should reflect real lives and dismantle structures that limit people’s choices—especially where gender, background, or life situation still affects people’s opportunities to participate in society on equal terms and with equal conditions. Gender equality policy must also take into account how gender interacts with language, ethnicity, disability, and other factors that shape people’s lives.

Education and equality

A good education is the foundation of an equal society. For the Swedish People’s Party of Finland, school is a place where every child and young person should be able to grow, learn, and dream without being limited by gender norms, expectations, or discrimination. A gender-equal education system gives everyone the opportunity to shape their own life, regardless of background, gender, or identity.

Despite progress, there are still clear gender differences in education and career choices. Boys and girls are often steered in different directions from an early age, both through unconscious expectations and through a lack of role models. Women are overrepresented in care and social welfare professions, while men are overrepresented in technology and the natural sciences. This segregation affects the entire labour market and reinforces economic inequality. Gender equality in education is not only about career choices, but also about safety, participation, and respect. School should be free from harassment, discrimination, and gender-based violence. Teaching should strengthen young people’s understanding of gender equality, consent, and human rights.

We see education as a tool for change. Through gender equality work in schools, gender responsive pedagogy, and continuing professional development for teachers, we can create a culture in which every child is given the opportunity to develop on their own terms. School should also provide age-appropriate sexuality education that strengthens respect for everyone’s right to bodily integrity, highlights the importance of consent, and takes into account the diversity of genders and identities.

The Swedish People’s Party of Finland wants to:

  • ensure that every comprehensive school and upper secondary institution has a trained sexuality educator with resources to work actively with sexuality education that complements regular teaching, and that continuing training is provided nationwide
  • ensure that teaching on consent, respect and gender equality is included at all school levels, from comprehensive school to upper secondary education
  • ensure that teacher education and in-service training for school staff include gender responsive pedagogy, so that gender roles and invisible norms are actively counteracted
  • ensure that municipalities appoint responsible persons for gender equality work and for monitoring compliance with guidelines against harassment
  • ensure that schools have trained contact persons and clear procedures to prevent and address violence and harassment, and that municipalities follow up on the national action programme for safer school environments
  • strengthen the prevention of honour-related violence through training, resources, and increased cultural competence among staff in schools, healthcare and public authorities
  • strategically dismantle limiting gender stereotypes in schools so that everyone can choose education and a profession based on their interests
  • ensure that schools and educational institutions have access to student welfare services, counsellors and school healthcare that take gender and equality perspectives into account
  • allocate more resources to adolescent psychiatry to support students’ wellbeing
  • strengthen cooperation between school, home and society to create respectful and gender-equal environments for children and young people, with particular attention on including families with other linguistic backgrounds.

Economic equality

Economic equality is a fundamental prerequisite for freedom and self-determination. The Swedish People’s Party of Finland wants everyone, regardless of gender, to have the opportunity for economic independence, fair working conditions, and secure livelihoods throughout life. The wage gap between women and men, the gender-segregated labour market, and differences in pension levels show that this goal has not yet been achieved. High-income earners are more often men, while income differences among men are greater than among women. Women are more likely to be single parents, to work part-time or on fixed-term contracts, and to work more often in lower-paid occupations. This leads to lower earnings during working life and smaller pensions, since pensions are based on wage income.

When economic differences between women and men persist, both individuals and society lose out because not all potential is put to use. Female-dominated professions are still not valued highly enough, and part-time work or caring responsibilities often lead to lower incomes and weaker pensions. We want to reduce gendered educational choices and occupational structures. At the same time, women are underrepresented in leadership positions, while men more often have access to higher pay and greater power in the business sector.

The Swedish People’s Party of Finland wants to create a working life that is open, fair and inclusive—a working life where equality is a competitive advantage and where women and men have equal opportunities to advance, negotiate and exert influence. Policy should support both work and entrepreneurship, but also counteract the structures that systematically hold certain groups back.

The gender pay gap is smallest in the public sector and largest in the private sector. Even though women on average have a higher level of education than men, this has not reduced wage differences sufficiently. For us, equal pay for equal work and work of equal value is self-evident. It is a right that must be realised in practice. A gender-equal working life is also about everyday security. This means that wages are sufficient, that pensions are fair, and that no one is forced to choose between family and career.

An equal society is built on the possibility of combining work and family life. We must fight pregnancy discrimination. Parental leave must be shared more equally. Women still take the largest share of leave, which affects women’s income, career opportunities and pensions. Long leaves also risk weakening women’s position in the labour market and risk creating economic insecurity for families.

An early start in early childhood education benefits both children’s development and equality in society. At the same time, a more equal division of parental leave is needed, with better support for fathers in low-paid occupations to use their share of parental leave, as well as incentives that make it easier for families to share leave equally.

We must take equality issues into account and protect women and minorities in connection with digitalisation and the development of artificial intelligence. Algorithms and automated systems must not promote gender discrimination or invisible norms.

A society that supports families’ everyday lives and respects people’s choices is a society that creates genuine freedom. A working life and family life that can be combined on equal terms creates greater security, more equality, and a higher quality of life.

The Swedish People’s Party of Finland wants to:

  • level out the pay gap between women and men so that women and men have equal opportunities for economic security during working life and in retirement
  • pay special attention to wage disparities affecting women with disabilities and women from other minority backgrounds
  • ensure that equal pay for equal work and work of equal value is realised in practice, including through salary transparency
  • strengthen support for women’s entrepreneurship and create better conditions for female entrepreneurs, including access to financing, networks and advisory services
  • promote gender-equal representation in leadership positions in both the public and private sectors
  • ensure that an equality perspective is taken into account in the regulation and development of artificial intelligence
  • make early childhood education and care free of charge in the long term
  • ensure that there is a comprehensive network of early childhood education, including evening and night-time care.
  • improve the parental leave system so that leave is shared more evenly between parents and gives both the opportunity to stay at home with their children
  • clarify the rules for shift work with regard to caring for a sick child, so that access to daily rest can be guaranteed
  • ensure that, in shared custody arrangements with alternating residence, both guardians have the right to the increased housing allowance regardless of where the child is officially registered
  • ensure that negative attitudes towards, and discrimination against, immigrant women in workplaces are identified and taken seriously
  • combat discrimination against immigrant women, for example through anonymous recruitment
  • promote language training and integration programmes that can be combined with family life
  • improve opportunities for recognising studies completed abroad
  • guarantee that single parents and families with special needs receive the support required to participate in working life on equal terms
  • require all employers to ensure breastfeeding-friendly workplaces where parents are given the opportunity to breastfeed or express breast milk during the workday.

Representation and influence

Democracy works when everyone has the same opportunities to influence society. Power and influence should not depend on gender, background, or economic status. For the Swedish People’s Party of Finland, gender-balanced representation is a matter of fairness and democracy. When more perspectives are represented, decisions become wiser and more sustainable.

The goal of gender-equal power is far from being achieved. Women are still underrepresented where decisions are made. Women and men do not participate on equal terms in political life, in business, or in the formation of public opinion through the media. Women are still less represented in leadership positions, while men more often hold power in business and in public office. At the same time, women—especially young women and women from minority backgrounds—are increasingly subjected to harassment and hate speech when they take part in election campaigns or public debate. Hate and harassment online have no place in a free and open society. When people are threatened or silenced, both freedom of expression and democracy are curtailed. Everyone must be able to participate in public debate without fear.

An equal society requires representative power. This means we must remove barriers, break norms, and create conditions for everyone to participate. Representation is not only about having a seat at the tables where decisions are made, but about having a real opportunity to influence those decisions.

We want to introduce universal, gender-equal conscription in which everyone is called up for service regardless of gender, and where every citizen is given the opportunity to contribute to the country’s security according to their abilities, in a military or civilian capacity. Conscription should provide equal opportunities for education and career development in working life regardless of gender. This strengthens both defence capability and the sense of shared responsibility for the country. Efforts to combat harassment and inappropriate behaviour within the Defence Forces must continue.

Sport and physical activity are important for participation in society. Everyone, regardless of gender, age, or background, should have equal opportunities to take part in sport and leisure activities. Despite this, differences in access to resources, visibility, and support still remain. Women and girls often receive less financial support in sport, and their achievements do not receive the same attention as men’s. At the same time, men participate to a lesser extent in health-promoting physical activity, which affects health and wellbeing. It is also essential to create safe environments where everyone can participate without fear of harassment, discrimination, or pressure from harmful body ideals.

Women and men use public spaces and public transport in different ways, and therefore a gender equality perspective must be included in all planning and decision-making. It is part of social responsibility to ensure that streets, transport, and public environments are safe and accessible for everyone.

For us, gender-balanced representation is also a question of role models. When people see leaders who reflect the diversity of society, belief is strengthened that everyone can contribute. This applies to politics, business, sport, culture, the defence sector, the media, and civil society. When everyone participates on equal terms, democracy is strengthened—which benefits us all.

The Swedish People’s Party of Finland wants to:

  • ensure balanced gender representation in decision-making at all levels
  • introduce targets for gender-balanced representation in state-owned companies and organisations, and encourage corresponding practices in private companies
  • combat hate speech, harassment and threats against people who take part in public debate, especially women, minorities and young people
  • work for equality in media and culture, so that the voices and experiences of women and non-binary people are given equal visibility and influence as men’s
  • ensure continued funding for women’s organisations
  • ensure that the public sector leads by example in recruitment, career paths and pay, so that influence and responsibility are distributed equally
  • strengthen women’s participation and leadership in politics, business and the public sector through training, mentorship programmes and networks for future leaders
  • introduce universal, gender-equal conscription in Finland
  • create more ways to complete conscription, for example for people with disabilities
  • develop the defence forces’ protective equipment in a more gender-sensitive way
  • ensure that defence leadership has the competence to identify and intervene in cases of discrimination
  • ensure that efforts to prevent discrimination and inappropriate behaviour within the defence forces continue
  • distribute support for male and female athletes equally
  • ensure that Finland continues to be an active actor and influencer in international forums addressing equality issues in sport
  • make media coverage of women’s and men’s sport more gender-equal
  • ensure there is support to prevent and stop violence, sexual harassment and other inappropriate treatment of girls and women in sport
  • raise awareness among decision-makers at all levels of the need for gender impact assessments when planning roads, transport and public transport
  • highlight the personal safety of public transport users as a distinct factor, separate from technical traffic safety
  • use gender budgeting in the state, municipalities and wellbeing services counties, so that every euro invested helps reduce inequality and promote equal opportunities
  • actively prevent the rise in online violence, especially that directed at politicians and other public figures.

Health and bodily autonomy

The right to health and self-determination over one’s own body is crucial for gender equality. No one should have to experience that gender, gender identity, or gender expression affects the care they receive, how they are treated, or their opportunities for a good life. Reducing gender differences in health and wellbeing requires a social and healthcare policy that is aware of gender and equality.

It is important that care is provided with an understanding that needs and treatment may differ between women, men, and non-binary people. In Finland, there are still clear differences in the health, life expectancy, and access to care of women, men, and non-binary people. Women are more often affected by mental illness, men die earlier from lifestyle-related diseases, and trans people often face barriers in the healthcare system.

Women and men face different forms of vulnerability throughout life. Young women are more likely to experience mental illness, while women’s economic insecurity often becomes visible only later in life, for example through lower pensions and less financial room for manoeuvre. Men face a high risk of illness and social exclusion in working age and live shorter lives, especially those in a weak economic position. People experiencing homelessness are more often men. In maternity care and reproductive health, quality and access are uneven depending on region, language, and resources.

Everyone should be able to trust that healthcare treats them as individuals, not on the basis of gender stereotypes or prejudice. This requires a deliberate policy that integrates a gender perspective into all healthcare, research, and education.

Everyone should have the right to express their gender identity in the way that feels right for them and to define it for themselves. For trans people, the difference between legal gender and one’s identity can be significant, and access to support, care, and treatment is crucial for wellbeing.

Bodily autonomy also concerns the right to make decisions about one’s own life, such as choosing if and when to try to start a family, receiving safe care during pregnancy and childbirth, and having access to information, contraception, and abortion without barriers. A society that respects people’s bodily autonomy and right to health is a society that safeguards every individual’s freedom to decide over their own body.

The Swedish People’s Party of Finland wants to:

  • combat gender stereotypes in healthcare that lead to misdiagnosis, unequal diagnosis, or inadequate treatment of women and non-binary people
  • strengthen maternity care and guarantee safe, accessible, and linguistically equal care throughout the country, with a sufficient number of maternity units and a functioning care pathway for all birthing people
  • legislate for a third legal gender in Finland
  • improve mental health by strengthening access to low-threshold services and increasing support for groups that often fall through the cracks, especially women, young people, and trans people
  • safeguard trans people’s healthcare and right to self-determination through a system that respects individual identity and integrity
  • promote research and statistics that make gender differences in health, disease, and access to care visible, in order to make healthcare fairer and more effective
  • ensure healthcare is available in both national languages and takes different cultural and individual needs into account
  • provide menstrual cups and menstrual products through school and student healthcare services
  • offer menopause counselling within healthcare services, and compile accessible information on menopause on a national health portal
  • ensure that school teaching and school health services provide knowledge about menstrual health and gynaecological health, so that children and young people learn to recognise symptoms and receive the right support in time
  • revise the Sterilisation Act to ensure bodily self-determination and abolish the requirement for a partner’s presence at counselling
  • ensure that people who experience miscarriage, and their partners, have the possibility of paid leave, follow-up care, and mental health support
  • increase knowledge in healthcare and schools about neurodiversity—such as the diversity of ADHD and ADD symptoms and gender differences
  • enshrine the right to abortion in Finland’s Constitution, and safeguard sexual and reproductive health regardless of place of residence or financial situation
  • ensure medical research takes gender and physiological differences into account, and that medicine information clearly reports risks and effects for different genders
  • improve care for pregnancy-related nausea and ensure hyperemesis gravidarum receives a Current Care (Käypä hoito) recommendation
  • guarantee public gynaecological care for all women throughout all stages of life
  • ensure that women’s pain during Pap smears is taken seriously in healthcare
  • encourage more young people to get the HPV vaccine and increase vaccination coverage in Finland
  • offer cervical cancer screening with no upper age limit
  • ensure breast cancer screening is provided equally across the country and expanded to include women aged 40–74
  • inform newly arrived people that female genital mutilation is prohibited under Finnish law
  • reduce gender-related costs for healthcare products such as menstrual and incontinence products, hormone treatments, menopause care, and contraception.

Violence against women and gender based violence

The right to safety and a life free from violence is a fundamental human right. Yet women in Finland are subjected to violence every day—at home, in the workplace, online, and in public spaces. Finland is one of Europe’s most dangerous countries for women. Gender-related violence is one of the most widespread forms of discrimination and a serious obstacle to gender equality.

For the Swedish People’s Party of Finland, the fight against gender-based violence is a central part of gender equality policy. It is about both protecting those affected and changing the structures and attitudes that enable violence. Violence against women and girls is one of our greatest societal challenges, and something that society as a whole must take responsibility for. Violence against women often differs from the violence men are exposed to. Men are generally subjected to violence in public places by strangers or acquaintances, while women are most often exposed at home and by a current or former partner. Violence against women is often gender-based and in many cases has a sexual nature. In rape cases, the perpetrators are usually men, while the victims in the majority of cases are women.

 

Combating gender-related violence also requires preventive work through education, attitudes, and gender equality education from an early age. By teaching children and young people about consent, respect, and equality, we can build a society where violence is not accepted and where everyone can live without fear.

We want to put an end to gender-based violence, but until that happens, those who are subjected to violence must receive the support and help they need. Finland has international obligations through, for example, the Istanbul Convention. Meeting these obligations requires resources, coordination, and political will. Shelters, support services, and legal processes must function across the country and also be accessible in Swedish. This also applies to new forms of violence, such as threats and harassment on social media and the sharing of images or sexual videos without consent—an increasing problem that particularly affects women and non-binary people.

Sexual harassment is a widespread societal problem that violates people’s integrity and freedom. Harassment is often about abuse of power and is also often linked to racism and other discrimination. It occurs in all parts of society—in workplaces, schools, culture, online, and in public spaces. Women and young people are especially affected, but men and people of different gender identities are also subjected to sexual harassment. 

The Swedish People’s Party of Finland wants to:

  • increase the number of shelter places and SERI Support Centres for victims of sexual violence
  • improve public information about support centres for victims of sexual violence in general, and in the languages of the largest immigrant groups
  • expand support services for women in minority groups who have been subjected to sexual violence
  • ensure that it is the perpetrator’s freedom—not the victim’s—that is restricted
  • ensure that victims of intimate partner violence receive sufficient help and support to be able to leave a violent partner
  • ensure that personal data is always handled correctly so that protected information does not leak
  • ensure that psychological violence and coercive control are clearly criminalised
  • allocate resources to increase public knowledge and understanding of what psychological violence is and how it manifests
  • work at EU level to criminalise hate speech and targeted harassment
  • ensure at EU level that social media platforms bear responsibility for the spread of hate speech and threats on their platforms
  • systematically increase knowledge about racism and hate speech directed at minorities
  • take measures to improve support services for crime victims
  • investigate whether gender, gender identity, and gender expression should be explicitly mentioned in the Criminal Code provisions on incitement against a group
  • introduce a total ban on the purchase of sex in Finland
  • ensure that Finland offers social interventions, support, and exit programmes for those who want to leave prostitution
  • ensure accessible and reliable interpreting services, as well as specialised support services, at refugee reception centres
  • ensure that family counselling services actively work to identify and counter honour-related violence
  • combat all forms of gender-related violence, including psychological, economic, and digital violence
  • invest in training for police, prosecutors, healthcare personnel, and social workers on how to meet victims of gender-related violence and sexual harassment and how cases should be handled in a legally secure manner
  • strengthen the justice system’s capacity to investigate cases of gender-related violence and sexual harassment, including digital crimes
  • ensure that perpetrators receive treatment, rehabilitation, and follow-up to break patterns of violence and prevent new violent offences
  • develop methods to identify individuals and households at risk of domestic violence early and target violence-prevention measures at them
  • require all schools to adopt a porn-free policy, including age-appropriate pornography-critical discussions
  • investigate the link between pornography and gender-based violence.

International solidarity and gender equality

Internationally, Finland must be a visible defender of gender equality. The Swedish People’s Party of Finland sees gender equality as a universal right and a prerequisite for peace, development, and democracy worldwide. Finland has a long tradition of standing up for the rights of women and girls, and that tradition must continue. At a time when women’s freedom is threatened in many parts of the world—in war zones, through the anti-gender movement, fundamentalism, and restrictions on reproductive rights—a clear voice for human rights and gender equality is needed. Finland must be a voice that defends freedom, justice, and human dignity, both in the EU, the UN, and global development cooperation.

When women and girls gain access to education, health, and economic resources, entire societies are strengthened. When women participate in peace processes, the chances of lasting peace increase. When gender equality is prioritised in climate and development policy, solutions become more sustainable and fair. Policy must also take into account that climate change disproportionately affects women and the most vulnerable, and therefore a gender equality perspective must be integrated into climate policy. We want Finland to continue to be a forerunner in gender equality—building partnerships, supporting women’s rights movements, and defending universal human rights in all circumstances.

Finland and the Swedish People’s Party of Finland must stand up for every person’s right to freedom, safety, and self-determination. Especially as the anti-gender movement calls into question the progress made on gender equality and denies that human rights apply to everyone, there is a need for the determination to resist the movement and the knowledge required to be a strong counterforce. Finland’s gender equality policy, both within the EU and internationally, must be based on respect for gender diversity and must oppose all attempts to weaken human rights.

The Swedish People’s Party of Finland wants to:

  • ensure that Finland pursues a gender equality–based and rights-focused—also known as feminist—foreign and trade policy
  • increase Finland’s development aid level to 0.7% of GDP, in line with Finland’s commitment, and draw up a concrete action plan to reach this goal
  • prioritise gender equality and girls’ and women’s right to education in development cooperation
  • actively include women in peace mediation and conflict management
  • ensure that Finland works actively for gender equality in foreign policy, development cooperation, and international organisations
  • make gender equality an overarching objective in all development aid, and direct resources to projects that strengthen the rights, education, and economic participation of women and girls
  • ensure that Finland is a strong global voice for sexual and reproductive health and rights, and defends the right to healthcare, contraception, and safe abortion
  • support women’s rights organisations and civil society actors working for equality and democracy, especially in countries where these rights are under threat
  • ensure that Finland cooperates with the Nordic countries to promote gender equality as part of sustainable development, climate policy, and human rights
  • combat gender-based violence and discrimination in humanitarian crises and ensure that international aid reaches the women and girls most in need.