We want Helsinki to be a good city to live in and just the city for you. You have the right to access services, participate in city activities, and to be treated with respect, regardless of your background or personal characteristics. We are committed to promoting non-discrimination, equality and human rights in all our activities.

We have many ways of promoting non-discrimination and gender equality

Our services and activities play a key role in realising the fundamental and human rights of the residents in their everyday lives. By promoting non-discrimination and gender equality, we aim to ensure that everyone can benefit from our services, and that no one need fear discrimination or harassment. Each of our employees has a responsibility for this in their own operations.

To promote non-discrimination and gender equality, we have compiled special measures into equality and non-discrimination plans for services and personnel, which we update at least every council term. The non-discrimination and gender equality perspective is also strongly linked to many of our other programmes, plans and policies such as our wellbeing plan, accessibility policies and participation model.

Accessibility Representative and Specialist in the participation of Helsinki residents with disabilities

The city’s Accessibility Representative and Specialist in the participation of person with disabilities provide general advice and guidance on accessibility and disability issues but do not deal with individual issues such as applications or complaints.

Contact details of the City of Helsinki’s Accessibility Representative on the Helsinki for all website 

Contact details of the Specialist in the participation of Helsinki residents with disabilities 

Commissions and councils

The Gender Equality and Non-Discrimination Commission appointed by the City Board promotes, monitors and evaluates the implementation of non-discrimination and gender equality in our services and operations. In particular, the influential statutory bodies of the Elderly Citizens Council, the Council on Disability and the Youth Council promote the equality and inclusion of their own reference groups.

Read more

Equality and non-discrimination plans 2022–2025
Our operations are guided by the Equality Act and the Non-Discrimination Act
How to recognise discrimination and harassment

You might be interested in

Helsinki for all website
Our accessibility work aims to make Helsinki a city where residents can easily move about and function, regardless of their age or fitness.
City of Helsinki Accessibility Model
Learn about the methods and guidelines that we use to provide accessible, easy-to-use and thus efficient services for residents.
City of Helsinki Welfare Plan 2022–2025
With the aid of the welfare plan, we lead, guide and develop the work of promoting the wellbeing and health of Helsinki residents.
City of Helsinki Participation and Interaction Model
With the city-level model, we increase the opportunities for citizens, organisations, companies and other stakeholders to participate in and influence decision-making and our services.