Commitments to sustainable development made by the Ministry of Justice aim to combat human trafficking and reduce inequality

NordenBladet — The Ministry of Justice has made new operational commitments to sustainable development. The Ministry of Justice is committed to combating trafficking in human beings, strengthening the rule of law in international cooperation, using research data that takes better account of different population groups, and reducing the carbon footprint of its administrative branch.The commitments implement the Ministry’s vision for sustainable development for 2030, which is ‘a democratic state governed by the rule of law, with respect for fundamental and human rights and sustainable judicial administration’. The vision is based on the goals set out in the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which the Ministry of Justice has pledged to observe. – By making these new commitments, we want to challenge ourselves and others to work for sustainable development. At the same time, we are seeking to make a greater impact through our work. We will also regularly monitor the progress we make in achieving these goals, says Permanent Secretary Pekka Timonen. Comprehensive anti-trafficking measuresThe Ministry of Justice pledges to develop legislation and the activities of public authorities in a comprehensive manner in order to combat trafficking in human beings, even beyond the measures directly implementing the Action Plan against Trafficking in Human Beings. The Action Plan adopted by the Government in May covers the period 2021–2023.  The Ministry of Justice also pledges to adopt a participatory approach and engage in constructive dialogue in its anti-trafficking work. Furthermore, the Ministry undertakes to actively inform the public about trafficking in human beings and anti-trafficking work in various ways.Sustainable international judicial cooperationThe Ministry of Justice undertakes to strengthen the rule of law in international cooperation. The strengthening of the rule of law will support the peaceful development of society in many ways and helps guarantee protection under the law for all. The Ministry of Justice undertakes to reduce non-essential travel by increasing the use of modern technical solutions and digital materials and by participating in international meetings more often through remote connections.More detailed information on population groups to support decision-makingThe Ministry of Justice undertakes to strengthen the collection and analysis of population group-specific information as part of its efforts to develop knowledge-based decision-making. Information that takes into account different population groups is used in various research projects, such as the Fundamental Rights Barometer and the Language Barometer.The aim is to reduce inequality and strengthen good and just governance. Smaller carbon footprintThe Ministry undertakes to guide and support its administrative branch through performance guidance in order to reduce its carbon footprint. The aim is to reduce the carbon footprint of the Ministry’s administrative branch by at least 75 per cent from the 2019 levels by 2035.Based on the calculations made last year, greenhouse gas emissions of the administrative branch of the Ministry of Justice amounted to around fifty thousand tonnes of CO2-equivalent (50,000 tCO2e) in 2019. The calculations were made for the first time.Commitments will be monitored annuallySociety’s Commitment to Sustainable Development and the related operational commitments are a key instrument for implementing the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Commitments can be concrete measures, changes in practices or innovative experiments that will be carried out over a period of 5 to 10 years. The earlier operational commitments made by the Ministry of Justice concern promoting diversity in the Ministry’s recruitments, encouraging the Ministry’s personnel to adopt healthy and low-emission commuting methods, and taking sustainable development into account in the Ministry’s procurements and communications.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi