Yes. Civil remedies include seeking a restraining order. In addition to the person needing protection, the prosecutor, the police or a social worker may apply for a restraining order if the person threatened is afraid or unable to do it.
Where the police determines it to be necessary, it is possible for a victim to get personal protection.
It is always possible to bring a civil trial against a person in the form of a claim for damages.
Criminal remedies exist in that various forms of domestic violence are criminalized. Many of the relevant crimes are subject to prosecution ex officio in Finland. This means that bringing charges does not require a request from the injured party for a prosecutor to take action.
Finland has committed itself to adhere to the United Nations (UN) Declaration of Human Rights and the UN human rights conventions. They outline that everyone has the right to liberty and security, and that no one should be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment. The most significant international document with respect to the protection of women's human rights is the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1979. Finland ratified the CEDAW in 1986.
According to international law, any act of violence against women is a human rights violation, and state signatories to human rights conventions are obliged to ensure that their actions or the failure to take action does not cause them to infringe on human rights. Furthermore, the state is obligated to guarantee that these rights are met for all people by making sure that non-state actors do not violate them. This principle of due diligence includes the obligation to prevent infringements by private individuals, to investigate them, to punish offenders and to offer appropriate compensation to victims.
Finland has also committed itself to promoting women's rights by signing the Declaration and Platform for Action adopted by the Beijing World Conference on Women in 1995.In connection with the ratification process, the Criminal Code and the Aliens Act were amended.
Finland has implemented various action plans, including the Action Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women of 2011,[2] which was adopted in connection with the Action Plan for Gender Equality 2008-2011. The aims of the action plan are to tackle violence proactively by seeking to influence attitudes and behaviors; to prevent repeated violence; to improve the position of victims of sexual violence and the crisis assistance and support provided for them; to develop methods for identifying and intervening in the violence experienced by vulnerable groups; and to enhance the knowledge and skills of the authorities and professional service providers in preventing violence against women and in helping victims. The action plan was designed to respect the international conventions and treaties that Finland has signed.