Our work in Finland
Demo Finland builds the capacity and commitment of Finnish political parties to democracy support and enhances multi-party dialogue. Demo Finland supports, in particular, the inclusivity of Finnish political parties by providing targeted training and offering opportunities for peer exchange with the participants in Demo Finland’s international programmes. Democracy Academy for political youth and student organisations is organised annually to increase the understanding of young politicians on democracy and to create a safe space for dialogue. Activities in Finland support Demo Finland’s international programmes. To increase the awareness and deepen the understanding of democracy issues in Finland, Demo Finland also organises public events and discussions on different aspects of democracy.
Demo Finland is Finland’s leading expert organisation of international democracy support.
Results of our work
- Participants of the Democracy Academy for youth politicians have gained knowledge and skills that they can utilise in their political careers.
- The Democracy Academy has created new safe spaces for co-operation and interaction between youth representing different political parties.
- Women politicians who participated in training programmes have enhanced skills and readiness to take part in political debate over foreign and security policy issues.
- Demo Finland’s campaign for the improvement of voting rights of conscripts in Finnish Defence Forces, together with all youth wings of Finnish parliamentary parties and Varusmiesliitto (The Finnish Conscripts’ Union), was successful as the 2022 amendment in the electoral legislation enabled garrison voting in all elections.
Advocacy
Demo Finland’s advocacy work aims to promote democracy support in political party programmes and in national and international policies.
On a European level, Demo Finland actively participates in the advocacy work and knowledge production of its umbrella organisation the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD), and on a global level, through membership in the Global Democracy Coalition. Demo Finland is also part of a global advocacy network. In Finland, Demo Finland is a member of the National Commission on Sustainable Development and the Development Policy Committee, participates in the work of the networks that monitor the implementation of the UN Resolutions 1325 on Women, Peace and Security and 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security, comments on statements and reports of ministries, political parties and other stakeholders and produces statements related to democracy support. In addition, Demo Finland actively maintains contact with its member parties and strengthens their expertise in democracy support.
- Ranked 12/179 in V-Dem’s Liberal Democracy Index.
- Classified as a liberal democracy* by V-Dem.
- Latest parliamentary election: 2023
- Women in parliament: 46%
- UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights was ratified in 1975
- UN Convention on the Rights of Women was ratified in 1986
- The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was ratified in 2016
- More information on the state of democracy in Finland: https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/country/finland
*In a liberal democracy, requirements of electoral democracy are met; judicial and legislative
constraints exist on the executive, along with the protection of civil liberties and equality before the law.