Fundamental rights

By fundamental rights is meant the rights which the Constitution guarantees citizens, and which manifest themselves in society as generally accepted basic values.

Our fundamental rights include so-called rights of liberty. They safeguard primarily the freedom of the individual from intervention by the public authorities. Examples of them include the right to life, the right to personal liberty and integrity, freedom of movement, protection of privacy, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and association as well as protection of property.

Our fundamental rights further include economic, social and cultural rights. They likewise include such things as rights to work, social security and education. A characteristic feature of these rights is that the public authorities have an obligation to safeguard and promote their implementation.

In addition, the Constitution protects equality, electoral and participatory rights, language rights as well as the environment.

Legal security and good governance in the spotlight

The rights most central from the Ombudsman's viewpoint are those relating to legal security and good governance.

Fundamental rights are included in Chapter 2 of the Constitution. With a few exceptions they apply to both Finnish citizens and others living within the jurisdiction of the Finnish system of justice.

Fundamental rights were enshrined in the Constitution in their present extent when the provisions concerning them were comprehensively revised in 1995 and these provisions were carried forward into the new Constitution which entered into force on 1.3.2000.