Today, 11 May 2021, marks the 10th anniversary of the opening for signature of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, also known as the Istanbul Convention. In order to mark this occasion, European gender equality ministers and many other ministers from EU Member States have signed a common initiative calling on European countries to quickly accede to the Convention.

The Government has amended the decree restricting the activities of restaurants and other food and beverage service businesses due to the COVID-19 epidemic. The amendment to the decree will enter into force on 7 May at 00.00.

The COVID-19 situation is stable and developing favourably. As a result, Finland has decided to discontinue the nationwide tiers of COVID-19 prevention measures. Going forward, the COVID-19 epidemic will be managed through regional restrictions and recommendations. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health will make a decision on the matter early next week.