Aalto University Research Project Assesses Accessibility Legislation And Policy Needs In The Built Environment
Built Environment, Europe, May 25 2021
FINLAND: The Finnish Prime Minister’s Office has commissioned a study on the status and needs of accessibility legislation in Finland.
Finland ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2016.
The agreement mandates non-discrimination and defines accessibility from a human rights perspective as a prerequisite for independent life of a disabled person. The UN treaty mandates signatories to develop and enforce minimum accessibility standards to provide equal access to all built outdoor areas and buildings.
The Finnish Government Decree on Accessibility of Buildings which was enacted in the beginning of 2018, forms part of the national implementation of the UN Convention and sets a baseline of minimum standards. The decree clarifies accessibility requirements for land use, building sites and construction. There is, however, no regulation specifying accessibility of public outdoor areas. More information is therefore needed to determine the accessibility legislation and policy needs in order to meet the obligations of the UN Convention.
There is also no overall status reporting or data collection of the state of accessibility of the built environment in Finland. Some studies [...]