of Women in Legal Careers FIFCJ,
International Federation of Business and Professional Women IFBPW
LL.M., Mag.iur.
Liisa Kiianlinna
Finland
Theme: Equal Participation Of Women And Men In Decision-Making Processes At All Levels
THE RIGHT TO VOTE - TRUST IN LAW.
ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF FINNISH DEMOCRACY
The Parliament of Finland celebrates its centennial in 2006-2007. The 100th anniversary of the approval
of the Parliament Act and Election Act by the Diet will take place on June 1 st 2006 and the 100th
anniversary of the first plenary session of Finlands unicameral Parliament on May 23rd 2007. The
theme of the centennial is “ The right to vote- trust in law. One hundred years of Finnish democracy.”
In addition, the centennial focuses on the parliamentary reform of the early 20th century and the intro-
duction of equal and universal suffrage and full political rights for women.
Centenary of Women´s full political rights in Finland
The year 2006 is the 100th anniversary of universal and equal suffrage in Finland. The year 1906 represents an important milestone for women´s social and political
participation. Accordingly, Finland was
the first country where the women could fully exercise their voting rights and eligibility to stand for
elective office.
The Committee for the Centenary of Women´s Full Political Rights hopes that particular attention will
be paid to the achievement and exercise of women´s full political rights in the centenary year in both
Finland and internationally. The political rights are citizen´s fundamental rights. Thus, it is important to
highlight from time to time their importance and the history of how they were achieved, and the cen-
tenary year gives an exellent opportunity for that. Simultaneously, it is possible to look at topical issues
related to the political rights.
Statisctics
In the first election 1906 nineteen women have been elected to the Parliament. Parliamentary elections
are held in Finland every four years. Further, in the last election 2003 75/200 women have been elected
which means 37,5 %. Women as percentage of candidates in the last Parliamentary election in 2003
was 39,8 %. Next year we will vote again. Voting turnout of women and men in Parliamentary elec-
tion 1908 was 64,4 % from which the women have been 60,3 % and men 68,9 %. In the last election
2003 the voting turnout was 69,7 % from which 71,6 % have been women and 67,6 % men.
The first female president for Finland Tarja Halonen was elected 2000. This year we have re-elected
her again for next six years.
Representation of women in the European Parliament is 30,3 % (2004). Representation in national
Parliaments among 15 old EU Member States 25,9 % (2004) and 25 Member States 30 % women (2002).
At the moment there are five Finnish Women in the European Parliament