We call for this fax alert now, because the Finnish Minister of Labour is about to propose changes to the conscription law. This is due to the growing international criticism of the human rights situation of Finnish conscientious objectors. By faxing her you can help to increase this pressure even more, and remind the Finnish government of all the human rights problems related to the compulsory military service system.

Please send the fax below (or write your own text) to the Finnish Minister of Labour to put pressure on the Finnish government to stop discriminating and punishing people who don’t want to take part in the military service system. If possible, send also a copy to the other ministers of the
Finnish government, who will be deciding about changing the conscription law before the summer holiday.

We would appreciate it if you could also e-mail/fax us a copy of your letter so that we can keep track of the amount of protest letters the Finnish government receives. Also, please get in touch with us if you
receive a reply from the Finnish government.

More information on the human rights abuse of conscientious objectors in Finland is available on the following websites:

www.hermaja.org
www.aseistakieltaytyjaliitto.fi
www.wri-irg.org

Thanks a lot for your support!

For Mother Earth
fax: +32-9-2428751

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Contact details Finnish Government:

Please send the fax to:

1. Minister of Labour Mrs. Filatov, fax: +358 10 604 8003
2. Minister of Justice Mr. Johannes Koskinen, Fax +358 9 1606 7730
3. Prime Minister Mr. Matti Vanhanen, fax: +358 9 1602 2225

If you can, please send a cc to all the members of the Finnish government:

Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Erkki Tuomioja
fax: +358 9 629 840, E-mail:  erkki.tuomioja@formin.fi

Minister of the Interior Mr. Kari Rajamaki
Fax +358 9 1604 4635, E-mail:  kari.rajamaki@intermin.fi

Minister of Defence Mr. Seppo Kaariainen
Fax +358 9 1608 8244, E-mail:  seppo.kaariainen@plm.vn.fi

Minister of Finance Mr. Antti Kalliomaki
Fax +358 9 1603 3123, E-mail:  antti.kalliomaki@vm.fi

Minister of Education Mrs. Tuula Haatainen
Fax +358 9 135 9335, E-mail:  tuula.haatainen@minedu.fi

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Mr. Juha Korkeaoja
Fax +358 9 1605 4202, E-mail:  juha.korkeaoja@mmm.fi

Minister of Transport and Communications Mrs. Leena Luhtanen
Fax +358 9 1602 8596, E-mail:  leena.luhtanen@mintc.fi

Minister of Trade and Industry Mr. Mauri Pekkarinen
Fax +358 9 1606 3666, E-mail:  mauri.pekkarinen@ktm.fi

Minister of Social Affairs and Health Mrs. Sinikka Monkare
Fax +358 9 1607 4126, E-mail:  sinikka.monkare@stm.fi

Minister of the Environment Mr. Jan-Erik Enestam
Fax +358 9 1603 9545, E-mail:  jan-erik.enestam@ymparisto.fi

Minister of Municipalities Mr. Hannes Manninen
Fax: +358-9-16042855, E-mail :  hannes.manninen@intermin.fi

Minister of Culture Mrs. Tanja Karpela
Fax :+358 9 16076978, E-mail :  tanja.karpela@minedu.fi

Minister of Health and Social Services Mrs. Liisa Hyssala
Fax: +358-9-16074482, E-mail:  liisa.hyssala@stm.fi

Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Mrs. Paula Lehtomaki
Fax: +358-9-16056303, E-mail:  paula.lehtomaki@formin.fi



Dear Mrs Filatov,

I am greatly concerned about the human rights situation of conscientious objectors in Finland. I have recently learned that Finland still continues to imprison conscientious objectors, and practises a conscription system which punishes and discriminates against men choosing the alternative service. Recently, organisations including the United Nations, European Council and Amnesty International have all stated their concern over the human rights of Finnish conscientious objectors.

It worries me that Finland treats its citizens unequally on the basis of religious conviction. Jehova's Witnesses are automatically excused from conscription duty due to their religious objection to taking part in military service, while conscientious objectors of other beliefs and ideologies are sentenced to jail. This goes clearly against the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

I have also learned that Finnish law does not allow the possibility of conscientious objection during crisis time. In practise this could mean that during wartime men who previously took part in the alternative service would be forced to carry arms.

Unfortunately these are not the only human rights problems in the Finnish conscription system. There is no equal alternative to the military system. The length of the alternative service is clearly punitive, as it is more
than twice as long as the most common military service. According to a resolution by the European Parliament, the alternative service should not be any longer than the military service.

Furthermore, the young men choosing the alternative service often face economic discrimination, as the duty to organise accommodation is ignored by numerous service places. In addition to this huge problem, there is a constant lack of places where one can do his alternative service. It is clear that the level of practical organisation of the alternative service system by the Finnish officials is insufficient, thus giving its support to the discrimination against conscientious objectors.

Finland has to respect the human rights of conscientious objectors and change its legislation to meet the international human rights standards on this issue.

Therefore I urge the Finnish government to

-stop imprisoning conscientious objectors immediately
-stop discrimination on the basis of (non-)religious conviction
-recognise the right to conscientious objection during crisis time
-reduce the length of the alternative service to be equal with the military service

Furthermore I demand that the Finnish government

-ends the economic discrimination against conscripts practised by alternative service places
-finds enough alternative service places to meet the growing demand

Please keep me informed on the steps taken by the Finnish government to improve the human rights situation of conscientious objectors.

Yours sincerely,

(signature, name of the organisation, name of the representative, address, country, website)