O’Flaherty criticizes Finland’s proposed expulsion law during visit

Michael O’Flaherty, the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, criticized Finland’s proposed expulsion law during his four-day visit to the country, which concluded on Thursday. As part of his visit, he examined the situation at the eastern border, including a stop at the Imatra border station, and met with the Minister of Social Affairs and Health, Kaisa Juuso.

In his statement upon leaving, O’Flaherty acknowledged the challenges posed by instrumentalized migration for both Finland and asylum seekers. He condemned such manipulation, emphasizing that it puts already vulnerable individuals in precarious situations.

However, O’Flaherty believes that the implementation of the expulsion law could violate multiple international obligations, including the prohibition of refoulement, collective expulsions, and access to medical care. He expressed skepticism about the law’s effectiveness, suggesting that it might compel asylum seekers and migrants to take extreme and dangerous actions to enter the country.

The Commissioner urged Finnish authorities to reconsider the expulsion law and to ensure it does not come into effect. Additionally, O’Flaherty explored the situation of the Roma community in Finland during his visit.