Legal source(s)

• Government Decree on the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (491/2017) (Valtioneuvoston asetus sosiaali- ja terveysministeriöstä /Statsrådets förordning om social- och hälsovårdsministeriet)
• Act on the Government (175/2003) (Laki valtioneuvostosta /Lag om statsrådet)
• Act on Organising Healthcare and Social Welfare Services (612/2021) (Laki sosiaali- ja terveydenhuollon järjestämisestä /Lag om ordnande av social- och hälsovård)
• Act on Secondary Use of Social and Health Data (552/2019) (Laki sosiaali- ja terveystietojen toissijaisesta käytöstä /Lag om sekundär användning av personuppgifter inom social- och hälsovården)

Human rights capacity support

Functions

• Promotes health, well-being, equality and fair living standards.
• Plans, guides and reforms health and social policy.
• Coordinates policies on Roma people, people with disabilities and children.
• Acts as the required focal point for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Finland.
• Works with multiple advisory boards and committees.

Specific mandates

Structured cooperation with partners at national level

• Participates in interministerial working groups and networks.
• Acts as the National Roma Contact Point and meets with the Advisory Board on Romani Affairs and local authorities.
• Consulted by state bodies on Roma equality and inclusion.
• Works closely with various advisory boards.
• Represented on the Advisory Board for Non-discrimination.

Structured cooperation with partners at international and EU level

• Works with or is a member of the following organisations:
• EU,
• UN and its specialised agencies,
• World Health Organization (WHO),
• International Labour Organization,
• Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development,
• Nordic Council of Ministers,
• Council of Europe,
• Northern Dimension Partnership in Public Health and Social Well-being,
• Global Health Security Agenda,
• Other intergovernmental cooperation organisations and regional cooperation bodies, including the Barents Euro-Arctic Council, the Arctic Council and the Council of the Baltic Sea States.