Sexual health - yhteiskuntaorientaatio.fi
Sexual health is fundamental to the overall health and wellbeing
According to the World Health Organization, sexual health is the state of a person’s physical, mental, emotional and social wellbeing connected to sexuality. A part of good sexual health is having a positive and respectful attitude toward sexuality. Good sexual health makes it possible for a person to have pleasant and safe sexual experiences if they want to without coercion, discrimination or violence.
Reproductive health is closely connected to sexual health. Good reproductive health means the opportunity for safe pregnancy and birth, as well as birth control and protection from sexually transmitted infections. This also includes access to family planning. Family planning means that a person or a couple decides whether they want to have a baby or if they want to prevent pregnancy. Family planning also includes deciding how many children a couple or a family hopes for or when there would be a suitable time for pregnancy. The decision to terminate a pregnancy (abortion) is also a part of family planning.
Sexual rights are human rights
Sexual rights mean an individual’s right to decide about matters relating to their own sexuality. Sexual rights are connected to self-determination, meaning that a person has the right to decide about their own life and make their own decisions. Everyone in Finland has the right to decide about their own sexuality and body also when married or in a relationship. Sexual rights belong to everyone regardless of gender, ethnic background, sexual orientation or state of health.
Without the realisation of sexual rights, other human rights cannot be realised, and sexual rights cannot be realised without the realisation of other rights. For example, sufficient health care, nutrition and housing, as well as a safe living environment are all required for a person to be able to express their sexuality in a safe and satisfactory way.
Historically, women have had less social, political and financial power than men. Inequality between genders has hindered the realisation of sexual rights. Equality in society increases when sexual rights get stronger. These can include the right to decide about one’s own body, marriage and family, as well as the opportunity to receive education and financial independence.
Everybody has the right to their own sexuality
Everybody has the right to enjoy sexuality according to their own sexual orientation and the right to a safe sex life. Everyone has the right to express their sexual orientation and gender in the way they wish. Consent is required to have sex with others. No one has the right to pressure or coerce others into sexual activities.
Everyone has the right to knowledge about sexuality
Everyone has the right to receive good-quality sexual education, which offers comprehensive information about sexuality and sexual rights in an age-appropriate manner. Sexual education must be based on human rights, gender equality and a positive view of sexuality. It must include gender and sexual minorities as well as disabled people.
Everyone has the right to protect themselves and to be protected
Everyone has the right to bodily integrity and the right to decide about their own relationships and marriage. People must be protected from sexual harassment, rape and all other gender-based violence. If you experience sexual violence, you have the right to receive help and support. Everyone has the right to use birth control, as well as methods and products meant to prevent sexually transmitted infections. National legislation plays a central role in ensuring this protection.
Everyone has the right to sexual and reproductive health services
Everyone has the right to safe birth, contraception, safe abortion, treatment of sexually transmitted infections and other sexual and reproductive health services. These services must be available to all regardless of location and financial situation.
Everyone has the right to be seen as they are
Everyone has the right to be seen and heard in society as they are. Everyone has the right to express their own opinions without fear of discrimination, harassment or violence. All people are allowed to define their own sexual orientation and gender identity – or to not define them.
Everyone has the right to privacy
Everyone has the right to make individual decisions related to their own sexuality without fear of persecution, deprivation of liberty, or social pressure. Sexual and reproductive health services must be confidential, meaning that the clients’ information cannot reach outsiders.
Everyone has the right to impact the realisation of sexual rights in society
Everyone has the right to participate and impact the realisation of sexual rights and decision-making related to sexual rights in society. This includes decisions about one’s own body as well as the opportunity to affect political decisions.
Everyone in Finland decides about their romantic and sexual relationships for themselves
In Finland, as in many culturally liberal countries, people decide rather freely about their romantic and sexual relationships. Finnish society is individualistic and both youths and adults decide about their romantic matters independently.
Others cannot usually control who someone spends their time with, starts a relationship with or gets married to. Freedom of choice encompasses short relationships, dating, common-law relationships and marriage. Finland does not recognise arranged marriage, and forced marriage is a crime. Each person is free to choose their partner or partners and what sorts of relationships they want to enter and maintain.
It is common for people in Finland to have multiple relationships of different lengths in their lifetime. All people can, at some stage of their life, have short relationships where sex may play a central role. In Finland, it is possible to speak rather openly about sex and sexual matters, but often these matters are discussed only with one’s closest friends or partners.
Another person should not be treated as merely a conquest
Dating culture, finding and choosing a partner, and sexual behaviour is liberal in Finland. However, these entail different rules about how to consider the other person, consent, self-determination and bodily integrity.
If you meet a person in Finland whom you are interested in romantically or sexually, they should be treated well. As in life generally, in dating and sexual relationships, people want to be treated considerately, respectfully and equally. Every person hopes that others would be interested in them as an individual, instead of merely as a representative of their gender or as a conquest.
Touching or messaging without consent is sexual harassment
A person’s clothing, makeup, hair and gestures are an expression of personal style as well as gender expression. They are never an invitation to touch, catcall or whistle.
Unwanted and nonconsensual touching, sexualised talk, messages and images are sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is a crime in Finland and it can lead to fines or even imprisonment. Everyone has the right to be in public spaces without harassment or assault.
In Finland, both women and men can take initiative and be active in finding a partner. Making eye contact, flirting, talking and dancing together are normal for many people. However, these acts are never a promise for future dates, sex or a relationship. If you want to get to know someone better, you should ask them clearly if they are interested in closer relations.
Sexual acts and touching requires consent from the partner
Everybody is obligated to respect the sexual boundaries of others and their desires and wishes related to sexuality. In Finland, people have the obligation to ensure the other’s consent to be touched and engage in sexual acts. Consent can be expressed verbally, but it can also be expressed through gestures or acts. Consent for sexual acts is also required in marriage and relationships. This should not merely be a question of all parties agreeing to sex, but rather respect for the other also means making sure that all parties find pleasure in the act.
If you are unsure about whether you have received the other’s consent to an act, you should ask directly. Consent to sexual acts can be withdrawn at any time, even during sex. Sex without consent is rape which is a crime. This can lead to a prison sentence.
More information about sexual crimes in Crimes.
Everybody has the power to decide about their own body
Bodily integrity and self-determination mean that everyone has the authority to make independent decisions about their own body without violence or coercion. One has the power to decide when and with whom one wants to be in a relationship or have sex, or if one wants these things at all. If someone says no, this always means that they do not want it. Self-determination also contains the authority to decide when one wants children, with whom, or if one wants children at all.
Health services connected to sexuality are provided at health stations
Sexual health is closely related to reproductive health, which means all health matters connected to sexuality. These include
- The prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections
- The use of modern and reliable contraception
- Monitoring pregnancy and providing modern prenatal care
- Safe birth
- Fertility testing and treatments
- Access to safe abortion.
Reproductive health services in Finland are provided by wellbeing services counties’ health stations, maternity clinics, school and student healthcare, contraception clinics or family planning clinics. Some areas offer contraception for pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections for everyone under the age of 20 or 25 for free.
Termination of pregnancy, meaning abortion, can be done in Finland at the request of the pregnant person without separate justifications before the end of the 12th week of pregnancy. A person considering termination of pregnancy must contact their own area’s health and social services centre or make an appointment with a private doctor.
An abortion can also be obtained for a justified, legally dictated reason later, up until the 24th week of pregnancy. In such a case, one must apply for special permission for the termination of pregnancy from the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira).
More information about abortion: Abortion (infofinland.fi)
Female genital mutilation is a crime in Finland
Female genital mutilation or circumcision is a procedure where a part of the external genital organs are removed or they are harmed in some other way. Sometimes mutilation means removing all external genital organs and having the vaginal opening sewn closed almost completely. Female genital mutilation in all its forms is a crime in Finland.
Female genital mutilation infringes on the girl’s bodily integrity and is a crime which can lead to a punishment of many years of incarceration. In Finland, anyone who works with children is legally obligated to report to the authorities if they suspect that a girl’s parents or relatives are planning to perform female genital mutilation.
For example, the staff at schools, day care centres and child health clinics are obligated to submit a notification, but anyone can make a notification. This notification is a child welfare notification and is submitted to the social welfare authorities. A report of an offence is also submitted to the police.
Genital mutilation can lead to severe health issues
If urine or menstrual blood cannot come out normally, this causes severe health issues. This can lead to infections. There can also be issues with sexual intercourse and it may be difficult for a woman to enjoy sex. Mutilation also increases risks during pregnancy and birth. Trauma caused by the mutilation procedure can cause mental health issues.
More information the impacts of genital mutilation on birth in Services for families.
Deinfibulation or reconstructive surgery can help issues caused by mutilation
Deinfibulation (opening) surgery or reconstructive surgery can be performed for a woman who has undergone female genital mutilation. In deinfibulation, the labia which has been sewn closed is opened – this usually helps problems and pain with urination, menstruation and intercourse. The deinfibulation is done at an outpatient clinic under anaesthesia and it is a quick procedure.
Reconstructive surgery strives to return the normal anatomy and functions of the genitals. The purpose of reconstructive surgery is to ease the issues caused by the mutilation and to improve the woman’s sexual wellbeing. Reconstructive surgery is performed by a plastic surgeon at a hospital. This requires a doctor’s referral from the patient’s own health station.
The video below discusses female genital mutilation and health issues connected to it.
Video: THL Mitä silpominen tarkoittaa? (youtube.com) (Finnish, Kurdish)
Circumcision of boys is not performed in public healthcare without a medical reason
Male circumcision is not forbidden by Finnish law. Circumcision without medical reason is not very common and according to official recommendations, this is not considered beneficial. Many believe that the circumcision of boys is also an infringement on the child’s bodily self-determination.
More information about the circumcision of boys and girls in Services for families.
Sexual education protects the development of children and youths
In Finnish schools, children and youths receive sexual education in an age-appropriate manner. The basis for sexual education at schools is the youth’s right to receive information connected to their own health and wellbeing. The goal is to support and protect the youth’s sexual development. Sexual education also addresses emotional and relationship skills as well as diversity in sexual orientation and gender.
According to research, receiving information relating to sexuality increases the youth’s responsibility and protects and promotes their health. Many studies have shown that sexual education does not lead to early sexual experimentation or affect the youth’s sexual identity.
Sexual education at school teaches that sexuality is a natural and healthy part of human life. The classes emphasise values which are central to sexual education, such as self-determination and the importance of bodily integrity. Young people are taught that no one has to do anything related to sexuality if they do not want to. Sexual activities always require clear consent from all parties.
Even small children can be taught emotional and safety skills during early childhood education. This provides the child with information about their own body and their right to bodily integrity. Children are told in an age-appropriate manner how to value their own body, how to protect themselves, and how to act if someone touches them without permission or in a disturbing way. The aim is to teach the child skills which can prevent them from ending up in situations where they are bullied, manipulated or harassed. Children also learn how they can protect themselves and defend their boundaries if they are in a difficult situation.