syrjintäperuste

Syrjintäperuste refers to the grounds on which discrimination is prohibited by law in Finland. Finnish legislation, particularly the Non-discrimination Act, lists specific grounds that cannot be used as a basis for treating individuals or groups unfairly. These grounds are designed to protect individuals from discrimination in various aspects of life, including employment, education, and access to goods and services.

The protected grounds of discrimination include age, ethnic origin, nationality, language, religion, belief, disability, sexual orientation, and other personal characteristics. Discrimination is defined as any distinction, exclusion, limitation, or preference that has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment, or exercise of a human right or fundamental freedom on an equal footing. This applies regardless of whether the discrimination is direct or indirect.

Direct discrimination occurs when a person is treated less favorably than another person in a comparable situation based on one of the protected grounds. Indirect discrimination arises when an apparently neutral provision, criterion, or practice would put persons defined by a protected ground at a particular disadvantage compared with other persons, unless that provision, criterion, or practice is objectively justified by a legitimate aim and the means of achieving that aim are appropriate and necessary. The concept of syrjintäperuste is central to ensuring equality and preventing unfair treatment in Finnish society.