According to Finnish child protection act (Lastensuojelulaki 13.4.2007/417), a "child" is a person under the age of eighteen; a "young person" is under twenty-one. According to the Finnish Youth Act (72/2006), "young people" means those under 29 years of age.
There are no restrictions on this matter, at least no legal restrictions.
Restaurants:
Children are allowed to stay in restaurants, but it is forbidden to serve drinks containing alcohol to a person under 18 years (Alcohol Act 1143 / 1993 Alkoholilaki, § 24).
Dance Halls:
The only restrictions concerning presence in these kind of places are the ones concerning use and purchase of alcoholic products.
Night Clubs, Bars:
No, the age limit for bars and nightclubs, where alcohol is served is 18 years. (Alcohol Act 1143 / 1993 Alkoholilaki, § 24).
Harmfull Places:
No, there are no legal restrictions on this matter.
Gambling:
It is not allowed for minors (< 18 years olds) to stay in casinos (Lotteries Act / Arpajaislaki 1047/2001, § 15).
Young people under 15 years are not allowed to play gambling machines unless they are accompanied by a adult (> 18 years) belonging to the same family. Gambling machines should be placed in surroundings where they can be supervised (Lotteries Act / Arpajaislaki 1047/2001, § 16).
It is not allowed to sell products with high percentage of alcohol to a person under 20 years. Light spirits can be sold to a person over 18 years. (Alcohol Act 1143 / 1993 Alkoholilaki, § 24).
It is prohibited to sell products containing more than 2,8 percent alcohol by volume to a person under 18 years old. (Alcohol Act 1143 / 1993 Alkoholilaki, § 24).
Audiovisual Programmes supplied in Finland must be classified unless exempt from classification. An audiovisual programme detrimental to the development of children shall be classified with an age limit of 7, 12, 16 or 18, depending on the programme’s content, and be given a symbol that describes the detrimental programme content.
A programme can be publicly exhibited to a person at the most three years younger than the age limit of 7, 12 or 16 given to the programme if the child is accompanied by a person aged 18 or more. This rule doesn't apply to films labeled 18. (Act on Audiovisual Programmes 710/2011).
There is no legistlation on childrens or young peoples public smoking.
It is, however, prohibited to sell tobacco products to minors (Act on Measures to Restrict Tobacco Smoking / Laki toimenpiteistä tupakoinnin vähentämiseksi 13.8.1976/693, § 10).
Yes it is allowed for children/young people to go to internet cafés. There is no general agenda for protection of children against harmful matters in the web, but here beneath is a link to an ongoing project around this theme:
http://www.mll.fi/mll/toiminta/projektit/fia/
The "Finnish Internet Awareness" is part of the European network insafe for a safer Internet. The program is committed to many activities such as campaigns, training or a hotline for safe Internet use. Goal is to set up a helpline for children including under which they can exchange experiences and get support for problems.
It is not allowed to carry or possess weapons that could harm other people in public places (Public Order Act / Järjestyslaki 612/2003, § 10).
It is not allowed to hand over airguns, spring-controlled weapons or harpoon guns to minors without a consent of guardian (Public Order Act, § 11).
It is considered criminal to have sexual relations with a person under 16 years.
Penal Code, Chapter 20 Section 6Sexual abuse of a child (563/1998):
1. A person who
2. However, an act referred to in paragraph (1) is not deemed sexual abuse of a child if there is no great difference in the ages or the mental and physical maturity of the persons involved.
3. A person shall also be sentenced for sexual abuse of a child if he/she commits an act referred to in paragraph (1) with a person over sixteen but younger than eighteen years of age, if the offender is the parent of the child or, if living in the same household with the child, the offender is in a position comparable to that of a parent.
4. An attempt is punishable.
A young person 14 + years (it is enough that a person turns 14 during the same year) can be hired for temporary work. This work, however, can last maximum 6 months and should be arranged to happen during school holidays. Young person can also work besides going to school, but in this case the work should be very light and last for a short period of time. We don't have the system of working holiday in our country.
Finnish employment offices are part of the EURES employment exchange system of the European Commission. The system provides guidance, information and employment exchange services for those who seek jobs in another European country. It is also a forum for employers to advertise vacancies and to recruit employees.
Emergency number: 112
Police: 10022
Childrens'- ja young people's help-line (Lasten ja nuorten puhelin)
offers discussion help in difficult life situations: 0800-120 400
Criminal offer-services (Rikosuhripäivystys): 0203-16116
Crises help-line (Nuorten kriisipisteen kriisipuhelin): 09-7535 121
Information for youth in various matters:
http://www.kompassi.lasipalatsi.fi/?_lang_id=EN
German Embassy
Krogiuksentie 4
00340 Helsinki
phone: 094558-0
fax: 0945858258
emergeny phone: 0505636546
See: http://www.helsinki.diplo.de/Vertretung/helsinki/de/Startseite.html (website in german)
Central Union for Child Welfare in Finland:
http://www.lskl.fi/showPage.php?page_id=38
Office of the Ombudsman for Children (Lapsiasiainvaltuutetun toimisto)
http://www.lapsiasia.fi/en/frontpage
The Mannerheim League for Child Welfare
Laws can be easily found from the website:
no
source:
Ministery Of Education - Department Youth Policy (08/2009)
