SYL supports the ‘Olemme olemassa’ (‘we exist’) citizens’ initiative, which aims at introducing a third, non-binary legal gender marker in Finland. We believe that the initiative promotes equality and gender self-identification. It also supports the future development of study systems and student registers, as gender diversity can be better taken into account.

According to SYL’s policy, student, degree and civil registers must accommodate the rights of transgender, non-binary and other gender minorities. In our advocacy work, we have striven to promote inclusiveness in the study information systems of higher education institutions, for example through the option to change the preferred name or gender entered in the systems. Currently, study information systems like Sisu and Peppi use the official gender entered in the Population Information System of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency as well as the official preferred name. Students are unable to add any information that differs from this information.

In addition to changing the functionality of study information systems, we believe that students should have the right to define their own gender in the Population Information System. Introducing a third legal gender would increase the equality of students, as it could be entered in the Population Information System and from there to study information systems.

We believe that this legislative change is a significant step towards a more inclusive world of higher education and society as a whole, which is why we support the initiative. Everyone should have the opportunity to be seen as themselves before the law.

You can sign the ‘Olemme olemassa’ citizens’ initiative in the kansalaisaloite.fi service. Please note that the citizens’ initiative can only be signed by Finnish citizens.

More information

Mirka Nieminen
Member of the Board
Social policy (FSHS, well-being and equality)
mirka.nieminen@syl.fi
+358 44 906 5007