Reducing age discrimination and ageism
Reducing age discrimination and ageism is important. Age-discriminatory and ageist attitudes, practices and structures must be identified and dismantled to ensure that older people have equal opportunities with the rest of the population to access information, engage, participate and exert influence on matters affecting them.
What are age discrimination and ageism?
Age discrimination means treating a person or group less favourably than people of other ages based on their age. The Constitution of Finland and the Non-Discrimination Act prohibit discrimination on the grounds of age.
The concept of ageism is broad and open to different interpretations. It generally refers to prejudice, stereotypes and discriminatory acts directed at people based on their age.
The Ombudsman for Older People receives enquiries from older people who have experienced discrimination or inappropriate treatment. Research also indicates that age discrimination is widespread.
Why is it important to combat age discrimination?
Age discrimination and ageism restrict older people’s opportunities to access information, engage, participate and influence societal matters. They also have a negative impact on the well-being of older people. These effects can be particularly significant for older people in difficult social circumstances and at risk of social exclusion.
Older people may also experience multiple discrimination when age intersects with other grounds of discrimination. Older people belonging to minority groups may be particularly vulnerable to multiple discrimination.
Ensuring that older people can participate in and contribute to society on an equal basis with others is essential to the effective functioning of society as a whole.
Recommendations of the Ombudsman for Older People
The Ombudsman for Older People recommends the following measures to reduce age discrimination against older people:
- Introduce age impact assessments in the preparation of legislation and in decision-making. Such assessments support the realisation of the fundamental and human rights of older people in the most vulnerable situations.
- Improve the opportunities for Councils for Older People to influence decision-making in municipalities and wellbeing services counties. In particular, the rights of council members to attend, speak and submit initiatives in key decision-making bodies should be strengthened.
Read more about the topic
Ministry of Justice (2024). Preliminary study on ageism and age discrimination. Recognising age discrimination against older people in decision-making. Ministry of Justice publications, Reports and guidelines 2024:27.
Ombudsman for Older People (2024). Report to Parliament by the Ombudsman for Older People 2024..