[ Human Trafficking, Country-by-Country ]

FINLAND (Tier 1) – Extracted in part from the U.S. State Dept 2023 TIP Report

The Government of Finland fully meets the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. The government continued to demonstrate serious and sustained efforts during the reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its anti-trafficking capacity; therefore Finland remained on Tier 1. These efforts included prosecuting significantly more trafficking cases, establishing a working group to develop an NRM to standardize the identification of victims, and identifying more labor trafficking cases involving seasonal foreign berry pickers. Additionally, the government enacted new laws that strengthened trafficking victim protection rights by separating the provision of services from the criminal process; formalizing the victim identification process, which simplified the process for receiving and maintaining assistance; and enshrining the National Assistance System as a national center of excellence on trafficking in persons issues and assistance to victims of trafficking. Although the government meets the minimum standards, authorities continued to use laws against pandering, discrimination, and usury, among others, to investigate and prosecute some suspected traffickers, which weakened deterrence, did not adequately reflect the nature of the crime, and undercut broader efforts to fight trafficking. Reports persisted police inappropriately penalized trafficking victims for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked. Extensive pre-trial investigative delays and judicial system backlogs across trafficking cases, in some instances, impeded the prosecution of traffickers and provision of services to victims. Finally, some foreign workers, including seasonal workers, continued to be defined by the law and employers as “entrepreneurs,” leaving them without certain labor protections and government oversight to ensure employers and recruiters did not charge illegal fees.

Prioritized Recommendations

Cease inappropriately penalizing victims solely for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked.

Investigate, prosecute, and convict traffickers under the trafficking statute.

Reduce extensive pre-trail investigative delays and judicial system backlogs across trafficking cases by providing additional human resources to police and training prosecutors on understanding and applying the trafficking law and managing trafficking cases in a timely manner as not to inadvertently exceed the statute of limitations or delay the provision of services.

Ensure foreign workers, particularly seasonal wild berry pickers, defined as “entrepreneurs” by the law, and employees receive employment rights, including employee benefits and basic labor protection, either by amending the Employment Contracts Act or in accordance with the Finnish Seasonal Workers Act.

Establish an NRM standardizing the identification and referral process, define the roles of all relevant government agencies and actors, and train those actors to ensure uniform implementation across the country.

Ensure all regional service providers are familiar with victims’ rights to assistance and know how to offer high-quality services that are consistent with national standards.

Train local authorities, particularly in north and northeast Finland, on proactively identifying trafficking victims and identifying and enforcing trafficking crimes, specifically sex trafficking crimes.

Conduct public awareness campaigns targeting vulnerable populations.