Equality, non-discrimination and diversity

On a yellow background, a group of different people.

Equality and non-discrimination are fundamental rights for every human being. The City of Tampere is committed to promoting equality, non-discrimination, inclusion and diversity. The aim is that everyone in Tampere can be freely themselves regardless of their identity.

Tampere's equality and non-discrimination work is based on Finnish laws and international equality, non-discrimination and human rights conventions.

Did you know that Tampere has its own Pride flag?

Tampere has its own 13-stripe Pride flag, which is an enhanced version of the traditional pride flag. The colour stripes represent different identity groups.

Equality and non-discrimination plan

In Tampere, equality and non-discrimination work is carried out systematically. This work is guided by the City of Tampere's operational equality and non-discrimination plan, which was completed in early 2023.

The city's equality and non-discrimination plan is based on an extensive review carried out during 2022. As a result, 24 areas for improvement were identified and more than 50 measures were defined to address the city's concerns. In the future, the status of equality and non-discrimination in Tampere will be regularly monitored, for example as part of the Tampere Wellbeing Survey.

One of the main findings of the survey was that many Tampere residents do not know what to do in the face of discrimination or inappropriate behaviour.

The city's equality and non-discrimination plan in Finnish:

Tampereen kaupungin tasa-arvo- ja yhdenvertaisuussuunnitelma 2023-2025
(pdf) (4.23 MB)

Working together for equality and non-discrimination

Promoting equality and non-discrimination is everyone's mission.

These values are also promoted in all services provided by the city. For example, schools and day-care centres have their own equality and non-discrimination plans to guide their day-to-day work. Understanding diversity and people's individual needs is part of the professional skills of the city's staff.

The city's work on diversity and equality is coordinated by an Equality Coordinator, who is responsible for bringing together actors from different sectors to promote equality, inclusion and human rights. They do not deal with individual issues.

The Non-discrimination Coordinator works together with the Equality Plan Working Group appointed by the Mayor. The working group is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the city-wide equality and non-discrimination plan and for updating the plan. It is chaired by the Deputy Mayor.

The promotion of equality, non-discrimination and human rights is also part of the tasks of the city's lobbying bodies and groups.

Tampere also has an internal staff equality and equal opportunities plan, which is renewed every two years. This document analyses the current situation of equality and equal opportunities for city employees and sets out objectives and measures to promote them in the coming years.