”The proposal constitutes discrimination forbidden by international human rights agreements and the Finnish constitution, regardless of whether grading has a neutral basis,” comments Martin Scheinin , professor of international law at the European University Institute.

LEGAL EXPERTS lambast the model for allocating points to tenants in council accommodation proposed by Tom Packalén, Finns Party MP.

Pac­kalén suggested in Helsingin Sanomat on Sunday that residential areas with rental accommodation are graded and problem tenants are assigned housing in the zero-point districts, which would also have the highest concentration of services provided by the police, social services and the third sector organisations.

”The end result is what matters. Based on rulings by the European Court of Human Rights it is evident that separating people on neutral grounds is forbidden if it leads to prejudicial separation,” says Scheinin.

He regards the proposal particularly outrageous as Pac­kalén is a member of the Parliamentary Constitutional Law Committee, which is responsible for assessing whether bills and other proposals meet the requirements of the constitution and international human rights agreements.

”It is sad and serious that a member of the committee doesn’t seem to have any idea of the constitution, duties of the committee and his own position as a committee member.”

Juha Lavapuro, expert on constitutional law from Turku University, considers the model to be problematic “on judicial, social and moral levels”.

”Constitutional law ensures that all people are given the opportunity to choose where to live, something that is also guaranteed by the UN Declaration of Human Rights. Under the proposal people would be forced to move, which violates the principle of equality.”

Mikko Salasuo from the Finnish Youth Research Network says that the proposal is inane, arguing that once a tenant ends up in a zero-point district the only way is down.

”Grading systems like this are used in prisons and psychiatric hospitals, institutions which operate under different norms to the rest of society.”

Salasuo stresses that the ghettoes of major cities prove that forcing people with problems to live in a restricted area does not improve anyone’s opportunities.

”The problems only tend to accumulate. How can you even collect points once you’re in a zero-point area?”

Juha Väätäinen, Finns Party MP and the chair of the housing and environment subcommittee, regards the proposal as dubious with its references to tragic events of the past.

”The proposal is tantamount to concentrating people in one place and just falls short of putting barbwire around the area.”

Kirsti Karttunen – HS

Miska Rantanen – HS

Petri Sajari – HS

Jaana Savolainen – HS

Niina Woolley – HT

Photo: Markku Ulander/Lehtikuva

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