42% of immigrants in Finland face discrimination: THL

About 42 percent of people with foreign backgrounds living in Finland said that they faced discrimination in the last year, according to a survey commissioned by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).

About 75 percent of the immigrants, who experienced the discrimination believed that they became victims of discrimination due to their ethnic background and colour, said the THL in a press release on Tuesday, quoting the survey.

Men and women who immigrated to Finland from Africa and men who immigrated from the Middle East and North Africa said that in most cases the discrimination took place due to their origin, ethnic background or skin colour.

THL research professor Anu Castaneda said that experiences of discrimination weaken the well-being of individuals and groups. It also weakens the experience of safety and the feeling of belonging to Finnish society, the Professor added.

The 'MoniSuomi' survey was conducted through interviewing 7,838 adults whose parents and themselves were born outside of Finland.