Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated economic published draft legislation aimed at removing distress for those at risk and had a negative some of the obstacles. impact especially on the income of young In July, the European Court of Human women. Rights annulled its 2019 judgment that There were calls for the provision of social Finland had violated the European security to be raised to a level that ensures Convention on Human Rights when it the realization of human rights and for returned an Iraqi asylum seeker without human rights to be placed at the heart of adequately assessing the risks. proposed reforms, with a focus on the rights In August, legal changes improving asylum of people most at risk of facing seekers’ right to due process came into force. discrimination,in particular women, Sámi Concerns about the process remained, people, LGBTI people, Roma people, and including limitations on lodging an appeal to people with disabilities.1 the Supreme Administrative Court and on VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS subsequent applications. The number of sexual offences recorded by CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS’ RIGHTS the police increased by more than 20%. New In January, the Court of Appeal overturned Sexual Assault Support Centres opened in the convictions of three conscientious Kokkola and Seinäjoki in June and in Vaasa objectors sentenced for the second time for in November. refusing non-military service. In November, The response to gender-based violence parliament adopted a legislative reform, remained systematically under-resourced. In meaning that those acquitted would no April, the government decided to prepare a longer be required to serve. The length of the new model for financing the work of NGOs. alternative to military service remained In July, new legislation on health and social punitive and discriminatory. services came into force but did not include specific provisions on the prevention of 1. Finland: “I Live under Constant Duress and in a State of Emergency”: violence against women. Inadequate Social Security in Finland (Index: EUR 20/4804/2021), 31 A bill establishing the post of a Rapporteur August on Violence against Women was adopted by the parliament in October. FRANCE LGBTI PEOPLE’S RIGHTS In April, the UN Human Rights Committee French Republic expressed concern that the amended gender Head of state: Emmanuel Macron recognition legislation would not apply to Head of government: Jean Castex minors. In June, the government appointed a The laws on “global security” and working group to propose legislative changes “strengthening republican principles” raised to strengthen the realization of transgender concerns in relation to mass surveillance as and intersex people’s rights. In November, well as the rights to freedom of expression parliament began to consider an initiative to and freedom of association. The authorities reform the law on gender recognition. continued to use vague and overly broad criminal provisions to arrest and prosecute REFUGEES’ AND MIGRANTS’ RIGHTS peaceful protesters and used dangerous Family reunification remained difficult. In weapons for policing public assemblies. In April, the UN Human Rights Committee June, police used excessive force to recommended that Finland should remove disperse hundreds of people who had obstacles to family reunification. In peacefully gathered for a music festival. In September, the Ministry of the Interior July, a coalition of organizations filed a Amnesty International Report 2021/22 167