Human Rights Delegation
Human Rights Delegation
The Human Rights Centre has a 20 to 40-member Human Rights Delegation, whose members broadly represent the Finnish human rights actors. The Delegation’s composition is diverse in terms of expertise as well as representative, and the selection process is transparent.
The Delegation functions as a cooperative body in the field of fundamental and human rights and helps to intensify information flow between the different actors. It also deals with human rights issues of a far-reaching significance and principal importance.
Director of the Human Rights Centre chairs the Delegation. The Delegation selects its Vice Chair.
The Delegation convenes two to four times in a year. The Parliamentary Ombudsman appoints the Delegation for a four-year term at a time.
Tasks of the Delegation
to serve as a national cooperative body for actors in the sector of fundamental and human rights
to deal with fundamental and human rights matters that are of far-reaching significance and principal importance
to approve annually the Human Rights Centre’s plan of action and annual report
to promote, protect and monitor the implementation of the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities together with the Human Rights Centre (HRC) and the Parliamentary Ombudsman.
The Members of the Human Rights Delegation
2016-2020
1. Reijo Aarnio, Data Protection Ombudsman
2. Kimmo Hakonen, Secretary General Office of the Chancellor of Justice
3. Tuomas Kurttila, Ombudsman for Children
4. Jukka Maarianvaara, Ombudsman for Equality
5. Kirsi Pimiä, Non-Discrimination Ombudsman
6. Maija Sakslin, Deputy Parliamentary Ombudsman
7. Tiina Sanila-Aikio, Chair, Sámi Parliament
8. Elina Nieminen, Lawyer, The Finnish Association of People with Physical Disabilities
9. Pentti Arajärvi, Professor, University of Helsinki, University of Eastern Finland
10. Niklas Bruun, Professor, Hanken School of Economics
11. Elina Castrén, Executive Director, Finnish Refugee Advice Centre
12. Elina Grundström, Chair, Council for Mass Media
13. Leena Heinämäki, Senior Researcher,Northern Institute of Environmental and Minority Law, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland
14. Inka Hetemäki, Director of Advocacy and Programs, UNICEF Finland
15. Juha Hänninen, Director, Chief Physician, Terhokoti
16. Esa Iivonen, Leading expert, Mannerheim League for Child Welfare
17. Markku Jokinen, Executive Director, Association of the Deaf
18. Arto Kallioniemi, Professor of Didactics, University of Helsinki
19. Antti Karanki, Chair, Trasek
20. Kalevi Kivistö, Minister, Association of Pensioners interest groups EETU ry
21. Eija Koivuranta, Managing director, Family Federation of Finland
22. Kristiina Kumpula, Secretary General Finnish Red Cross
23. Kalle Könkkölä, Executive Director, Kynnys, the Threshold Association,
24. Niina Laajapuro, Policy Director, Amnesty International, Finnish section
25. Heli Markkula, Expert, Finnish Youth Cooperation – Allianssi
26. Kaari Mattila, Secretary General, Finnish League for Human Rights
27. Petri Merenlahti, Theological Advisor for the Archbishop, Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Finland
28. Eeva Nykänen, Chief Specialist, National Institute for Health and Welfare
29. Paula Paloranta, Secretary General, Chamber of Commerce Finland
30. Elina Pirjatanniemi, Director, Åbo Akademi Human Rights Institute
31. Pauli Rautiainen, Professor of Public Law, University of Tampere
32. Antti Sajantila, Professor, University of Helsinki
33. Kimmo Sasi, Advisor
34. Shafae Hamed, Service advisor, Hamed Shafae, City of Helsinki
35. Ida Sulin, Lawyer, Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities
36. Antti Teittinen, Head of Research, Finnish Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
37. Jarkko Tontti, Author
38. Riku Virtanen, Researcher