Human Rights Delegation met remotely on the 21st of December 2020

The Human Rights Delegation approved for example the Human Rights Centre’s Action Plan for 2021 in its remote meeting.

The Human Rights Delegation (HRD) met remotely on the 21st of December 2020 for its last meeting of the year.

The HRD approved the Human Rights Centre’s Action Plan for 2021, HRD’s Workplan for 2021 and appointed external expert members for the HRD’s Disability Rights Committee. The appointed experts are Elina Nieminen from Invalidiliitto ry, Markku Jokinen from Kuurojen Liitto ry, Sari Kokko from Näkövammaisten liitto ry, Pirkko Justander from Rusetti ry and Anssi Karhu from Me Itse ry, Kotka division.

In addition, the HRD approved its recommendations regarding the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the realisation of fundamental and human rights. The HRD gives recommendations in four areas:

• the issues surrounding the rule of law principle;
• the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic to the rights of elderly persons and persons with disabilities;
• the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic to the rights of children and the youth; and
• the issues surrounding violence against women and domestic violence during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The recommendations will be published during January 2021.

Additionally, Laura Arikka, a member of the HRD and the CEO of Erätaukosäätiö (Timeout) introduced the Timeout Dialogue method for the HRD. The HRD discussed how the Timeout Dialogue could be used in discussions on fundamental and human rights issues.