Government faces backlash over proposed changes to equality plans for daycare centers in Finland

The government’s plans to abandon equality plans for daycare centers and municipal early childhood education programs faced strong backlash on Tuesday. The Equality Ombudsman, the Gender Equality Ombudsman, and the Ombudsman for Children issued a joint statement expressing deep concern over the government’s proposal and opposing the changes.

According to the ombudsmen, the proposed measures contradict the objectives of the Constitution and the Equality Act, as well as the government program, the action plan against racism, and the national child strategy. They argue that the suggested changes could negatively impact children and families at risk of discrimination, a concern echoed in the government’s own proposal.

“Discrimination and its associated issues, such as bullying and loneliness, are real problems in the daily lives of young children,” stated Ombudsman for Children Elina Pekkarinen. Respondents of African descent who participated in a survey by the Equality Ombudsman reported experiences of discrimination at all education levels, starting from early childhood education. According to Equality Ombudsman Kristina Stenman, nearly one-third of respondents who experienced discrimination in education encountered it before they even reached school age, during early childhood education.

The ombudsmen oppose the proposed changes, arguing that they undermine commitments made by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s government to actively promote equality, non-discrimination, and the rights of children across all sectors of society. They assert that the draft proposal is contrary to the objectives of the Constitution and the Equality Act, and will not yield savings for the state budget. The obligation for equality planning was enshrined in law by the previous government in 2023, with an expectation to particularly benefit disadvantaged children. If Orpo’s proposal is enacted in its current form, the equality plans will be abandoned. The consultation period for the draft legislation concluded last week, and previously the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare also expressed concerns over the proposal.