The Equality and Non-Discrimination Advisory Board was appointed by the City Board on 18 August 2025. It continues the work of the former Gender Equality and Non-discrimination Commission.
The Advisory Board consists of seven elected official members, seven organisational members and permanent specialist members from the City Executive Office and from the different City divisions. The specialists have the right to attend and speak at meetings. Each full member also has a deputy member. The term of office of the Advisory Board is two years.
The aim of the Advisory Board is to increase dialogue between different parties and include as many minority perspectives as possible in the City’s specialist preparation processes and political decision-making.
Tasks of the Advisory Board
- support the mainstreaming of non-discrimination and gender equality into cross-cutting principles in all City operations and services,
- promote, monitor and evaluate the realisation of equality for all genders as well as the prevention and elimination of discrimination related to gender, gender expression and gender identity in all operations and services of the City of Helsinki,
- promote, monitor and evaluate the realisation of non-discrimination as well as the prevention and elimination of discrimination related to the characteristics defined in the Non-discrimination Act in all operations and services of the City of Helsinki,
- monitor and evaluate the implementation of the City-level equality and non-discrimination plan for services,
- make proposals and issue statements and opinions to other City actors to promote and implement equality and non-discrimination.
Members and deputy members of the Advisory Board for the 2025–2027 term
Elected official members:
| Member | Deputy member |
|---|---|
| Jim Koskinen (National Coalition Party) | Anni Sinkko (National Coalition Party) |
| Taslima Zaman (National Coalition Party) | Mikko Sinisalo (National Coalition Party) |
| Christa Pessi (Social Democratic Party) | Antti Aliklaavu (Social Democratic Party) |
| Vini Venetvaara (Greens), puheenjohtaja | Miro Ilvonen (Greens) |
| Touko Apajalahti (Greens) | Iris Flinkkilä (Greens) |
| Ahmad Hosseini (Left Alliance) | Esther Grönstrand (Left Alliance) |
| Salla Viitanen (Left Alliance) | Toni Kirsikkapuu (Left Alliance) |
Organisational members:
| Member | Deputy member |
|---|---|
|
Sateenkaariperheet - Rainbow Families Finland Verna Finström |
Trans ry Valo Vesikauris |
|
The National Council of Women of Finland Oona Foster |
Loisto Setlementti ry Pauliina Liukkonen |
|
Miesjärjestöjen keskusliitto ry Tomi Timperi |
Miehet ry Juha Seppä |
|
The Finnish Disability Forum / Hilma – The Support Centre for Immigrant Persons with Disabilities and long-term Illnesses Mahmoud Hassan |
African Care ry Batulo Essak |
|
Romano Missio ry Tuula Blomerus |
Finnish Romani Forum Allan Lindberg |
|
The National Forum for Cooperation of Religions in Finland (CORE Forum) Faiza Bushra |
The Peace Education Institute Hanna Mithiku |
|
MONIKA – Multicultural Women’s Association, Finland Jenni Tuominen
|
Familia ry Elina Helmanen
|
Meetings of the Advisory Board
The Advisory Board meets 4-6 times a year.
Autumn 2025 meetings:
- 25 September
- 20 November