Material scope

Accordingly, this Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of, inter alia, religion, belief, age, sexual orientation, disability and ethnic origin in the following fields (a broad typology): access to self-employment and occupation; conditions for access to employment, employment and working conditions, vocational guidance; access to education, all types of vocational training and retraining; and membership of and involvement in an organisation of workers or employers.

Furthermore, discrimination on the basis of ethnic origin is also prohibited in the following fields: social and health services; social benefits and advantages; military or civilian service, including voluntary military service for women; and provision of housing and other supply of services and goods available to the public. Legal transactions within the sphere of private and family life are not covered.

The Penal Code is applicable to instances of discrimination that have taken place in the fields of, inter alia, employment, provision of services and the discharge of duties in a public office.

The laws adopted by the Åland Islands ban discrimination on the grounds of ethnic origin, religion and belief, disability, age and sexual orientation as follows: discrimination in the area of employment is prohibited on all grounds; discrimination in the area of health and social services is prohibited on the grounds of ethnic origin, religion and belief and sexual orientation; discrimination in the areas of education and provision of goods and services is prohibited on the grounds of ethnicity, religion and belief, disability and sexual orientation.